Maternal weight
Weight gain during pregnancy
Weight gain in the pregnancy, if excessive may impact on your comfort and mobility in later pregnancy as well as your longer-term health. Assessment of ideal weight gain in pregnancy is best based on a woman's pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI, a measure of height in relation to weight). In general, leaner women are advised to gain more pregnancy related weight, and heavier women are advised to gain less. Routine weighing of pregnant women at each visit has not been shown to be of benefit in relation to pregnancy outcomes and is therefore not a necessary part of your pregnancy care. We are happy to record your weight at each visit if you wish and provide advice on ideal target BMI weight gain if desired.
Recommended target weight gains in pregnancy are as follows:
| BMI before pregnancy | Recommended Weight Gain |
| Less than 20 (low) | 12-18kg |
| 20-26 (normal) | 11-15kg |
| 26-29 (high) | 7-11kg |
| Over 29 (overweight) | 7kg or less |