Pregnancy Health & weight management
Supporting a Healthy Pregnancy for You and Your Baby
Maintaining a healthy weight before and during pregnancy is one of the most important steps you can take for your health and your baby’s wellbeing.
Excess weight (overweight or obesity) increases the risk of complications for both mother and child — but with the right care, nutrition, and monitoring, many of these risks can be reduced.
Understanding Body Mass Index (BMI)
BMI is a measure that compares your weight to your height to determine whether you are underweight, healthy weight, overweight, or obese.
We use your pre-pregnancy or early pregnancy weight to calculate your BMI, as weight gained later will overestimate the result.
Example:
- Weight: 65 kg, Height: 1.65 m
- BMI = 65 ÷ (1.65 × 1.65) = 23.8 (within the normal range)
You can check your BMI using the BMI calculator from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Recommended Weight Gain During Pregnancy
BMI Category | BMI Range | Risk Level | Total Pregnancy Weight Gain Goal* |
Underweight | < 18.5 | Increased risk | 12.5 – 18 kg |
Healthy Weight | 18.5 – 24.9 | No increased risk | 11.5 – 16 kg |
Overweight | 25 – 29.9 | No increased risk | 7 – 11.5 kg |
Obese – Class 1 | 30 – 34.9 | Mildly increased | 5 – 9 kg |
Obese – Class 2 | 35 – 39.9 | Moderately increased | 5 – 9 kg |
BMI Category | BMI Range | Risk Level | Total Pregnancy Weight Gain Goal* |
Obese – Class 3 | ≥ 40 | Severely increased | Under 5 kg |
*For singleton (one baby) pregnancies.
Risks Before Pregnancy
- Irregular ovulation and fertility challenges
- Higher risk medical conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes, which can worsen during pregnancy and may require medication adjustments
Risks to the Baby
- Higher likelihood of early miscarriage or stillbirth
- Difficulty assessing growth and wellbeing with ultrasound or examination
- Increased risk of birth defects (e.g., spina bifida)
- Larger birthweight (macrosomia) — can increase delivery risks such as shoulder dystocia (baby’s shoulder getting stuck during delivery)
- Possible nerve injury, collarbone fracture, or the need for special newborn care
- Greater chance of childhood obesity or diabetes if maternal pregnancy weight gain is high
Risks to the Mother
- Gestational diabetes
- High blood pressure or preeclampsia (can be serious and may require early delivery)
- Preterm birth and related newborn complications
- Blood clots in the legs (DVT) or lungs (pulmonary embolism)
- Difficult or slow labour, possibly requiring assisted delivery or caesarean
- Increased anaesthetic challenges with epidurals or spinal blocks
- Higher risk of caesarean complications: bleeding, infection, slow wound healing
- More difficulty with breastfeeding initiation
- Longer-term health risks — Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, osteoarthritis
- Lower chance of successful VBAC in future pregnancies
Our Advice for Managing Weight in Pregnancy We work with you to help:
- Plan appropriate weight gain based on your BMI
- Choose a balanced, nutritious diet that supports your baby’s growth
- Incorporate safe pregnancy exercise for strength, energy, and healthy weight
- Monitor your progress at every visit to ensure you and your baby are thriving
Healthy Eating C Food Safety Resources
- NSW Food Authority – Healthy Eating in Pregnancy
- Food Standards Australia New Zealand – Pregnancy C Healthy Eating
Every woman’s pregnancy journey is unique.
At our practice, we focus on safe, supportive, and evidence-based care to help you achieve a healthy pregnancy — no matter your starting point.
