Pregnancy weight gain calculator

Gaining weight during pregnancy is something all women have to cope with and it’s totally necessary when it comes to nourishing your growing baby.

But although you may have heard the term ‘eating for two’, pregnancy doesn’t give you the licence to raid the cookie jar. You actually only need around 300 extra calories a day, which roughly equates to a boiled egg and a piece of toast. So pregnancy certainly isn’t an excuse to put your feet up and chow down on candy and doughnuts!

The important thing to remember is that your baby gets all his nourishment from you, so if you eat too little his growth might be affected. This means dieting while pregnant is a no-no. The flip side, eating too much, can result in a large baby who may be born prematurely because he’s too big to stay in there.

If you’re normally slender you should look to gain around 25 to 30 pounds during pregnancy. If you were overweight when you got pregnant it’s still important to gain around 12 to 25 pounds but avoid putting on any more if you can. Keep up some moderate exercise (no marathons or high-impact aerobics). Stick to 20-minute strolls around the park, swimming or yoga.

Work out how much weight you should aim to gain during pregnancy with our pregnancy weight gain calculator, which is based on your weight and height before pregnancy. Also see our articles on weight gain during pregnancy, diet for a healthy pregnancy and foods to avoid during pregnancy.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.