Weight Gain During Pregnancy: How Much is too Much?

Women who gain too much weight during pregnancy have an increased risk of gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. If you are gaining more than 0.5 kg every week, or experience very fast, extreme weight gain (≥ 1 kg in a week) you should seek medical advice. This can be an early sign of pre-eclampsia, which can rapidly develop into a serious complication and will require careful monitoring throughout the remainder of your pregnancy.

Excess weight gain can also increase the likelihood of needing a Caesarean and giving birth to a baby with above average birth weight (known as macrosomia). Women delivering larger babies are more likely to struggle during delivery and ultimately require interventions and their babies have a higher risk of sustaining injuries at birth.

Losing the weight they have gained during pregnancy is a significant issue for many new mothers. Those who have gained excess weight are likely to find it harder to lose after giving birth and if they implement too strict a diet they risk reducing their milk supply.

Read more about healthy weight gain during pregnancy.