Calculate your BMI and weight category using your weight before you became pregnant
Weight gain recommendations for women pregnant with one baby
| If before pregnancy, you were… | You should gain… |
|---|---|
| Underweight : bmi less than 18.5 | 12 to 18 kgs |
| Normal weight : bmi 18.5-24.9 | 11 to 15 kgs |
| Overweight : bmi 25.0-29.9 | 6 to 11 kgs |
| Obese : bmi greater than or equal to 30.0 | 4 to 9 kgs |
Weight gain recommendations for women pregnant with twins
| If before pregnancy, you were… | You should gain… |
|---|---|
| Underweight : bmi less than 18.5 | 22 to 28 kgs |
| Normal weight : bmi 18.5-24.9 | 16 to 24 kgs |
| Overweight : bmi 25.0-29.9 | 14 to 22 kgs |
| Obese : bmi greater than or equal to 30.0 | 11 to 19 kgs |
Gaining less than the recommended amount of weight in pregnancy is associated with delivering a baby who is too small. Some babies born too small may have difficulty starting breastfeeding, may be at increased risk for illness, and may experience developmental delays (not meeting the milestones for his or her age).
Gaining more than the recommended amount of weight in pregnancy is associated with having a baby who is born too large, which can lead to delivery complications, cesarean delivery, and obesity during childhood. Gaining more than the recommended amount of weight can also increase the amount of weight you hold on to after pregnancy, which can lead to obesity.
