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Pregnancy and obesity: Know the risks
Could obesity affect my ability to get pregnant?
How might obesity affect my pregnancy?
What's considered obese?
Will I need specialized care during pregnancy?
What steps can I take to promote a healthy pregnancy?
Content
How is obesity measured?
Could having a high BMI affect my ability to get pregnant?
How might a high BMI affect my pregnancy?
How could obesity affect my baby?
How much weight should I gain during pregnancy?
If I have obesity, will I need special care during pregnancy?
What steps can I take to boost my odds of a healthy pregnancy?
How might obesity affect my pregnancy?
What's considered obese?
Will I need specialized care during pregnancy?
What steps can I take to promote a healthy pregnancy?
Content
How is obesity measured?
Could having a high BMI affect my ability to get pregnant?
How might a high BMI affect my pregnancy?
How could obesity affect my baby?
How much weight should I gain during pregnancy?
If I have obesity, will I need special care during pregnancy?
What steps can I take to boost my odds of a healthy pregnancy?
How much weight should I gain during pregnancy?
Your healthcare professional helps you manage your weight throughout pregnancy. Your healthcare professional takes into account how much you weighed before pregnancy when helping you decide how much weight to gain.
Guidelines for pregnancy weight gain and obesity include the following:
- Single pregnancy. If you have a BMI of 30 or higher and are carrying one baby, the recommended weight gain is 11 to 20 pounds (about 5 to 9 kilograms).
- Multiple pregnancy. If you have a BMI of 30 or higher and are carrying twins or multiples, the recommended weight gain is 25 to 42 pounds (about 11 to 19 kilograms).
Your healthcare professional might not recommend that you gain a specific amount of weight during pregnancy. Instead, your healthcare professional might talk with you about preventing extra weight gain that could pose health risks.
