Weight plays an important role in a healthy pregnancy. Weighing below normal for your height you are at a greater risk for premature delivery and having a smaller-than-average baby. Overweight or obese women are at higher risk for having complications during pregnancy, a difficult delivery, and a baby who weighs more than average. Their babies are more likely to have weight problems as adults.
Babies who experience growth restriction in the womb have higher risks of developing chronic disease as adults. So an unhealthy weight isn’t just a threat to your pregnancy but it is a factor that can influence your child’s health into adulthood.
To get a more objective view, find your body mass index (BMI) below.
BMI: Body mass index is a ratio of weight to height, and it is commonly used in the health field as a more accurate measurement of body size than weight alone. (A man who is six feet four inches tall and weighs two hundred pounds is not overweight, but a man of the same weight who is five feet seven inches tall is overweight.)
BMI is not a perfect measurement because it doesn’t tell you if the weight you carry is largely muscle or fat. Many bodybuilders fall into the category of overweight even though they may have very little fat, and just because their BMI is high doesn’t mean they will have same health problems that come with obesity. However, when most of us gain weight it’s because we put on excess fat. So BMI is a useful measure of whether your weight is normal or is putting you at risk for health problems.
There are ongoing debates about what BMI is considered normal, overweight, or obese. In general, people agree that a BMI below 26 for women who are planning a pregnancy is a healthy weight, a BMI from 26 to 29 is overweight, and a BMI above 29 is considered obese.
Simple Chart
Underweight 19.8
Normal weight 19.8–26.0
Overweight 26.0–29.0
Obese 29.0
These categories make it easier for healthcare workers to make guidelines, but they can also be misleading. chances of conceiving are great for people who fall outside the normal range or closer to a normal weight before they begin trying to conceive.
If you fall outside a normal BMI, talk to your doctor and plan for gaining or losing weight before pregnancy to get a normal BMI.