Pregnant women with normal to underweight bodies mass index (BMI), should aim for a weight gain of no more than 3t 11lb (24kg) during pregnancy. This will prevent their baby from getting sick.
Researchers led from Wuhan University studied data on 15.8 million pregnancies to determine the optimum amount of weight mothers-to-be should put on.
Based on their findings, they have recommended that women with higher BMIs not be encouraged to maintain or lose weight during pregnancy — but to gain less.
For example, the team have concluded that the ideal weight gain for mildly obese women during pregnancy is 18–35 lbs (8–16 kg).
A study found that pregnant mothers who have a normal to underweight body weight index (BMI), should aim for a gain of no more than 3t11lb (24kg) during pregnancy. This will prevent their baby from getting sick.
Huijun Chen (Zhongnan Hospital Wuhan University) and other colleagues carried out the investigation.
The researchers stated that “adverse pregnancy outcomes” are often associated with improper gestational fat gain in their paper.
“Inadequate gestational growth increases the risk of preterm births and being born too small for gestational life.
“Excessive gestational fat gain” is associated with pregnancy complications like gestational hypertension. [high blood pressure] and diabetes, caesarean delivery, postpartum weight retention and obesity in later life.’
Meanwhile, they added, excessive weight gain can lead to such ‘adverse outcomes to the offspring such as being born large for gestational age, macrosomia, and childhood obesity.’
In their study, the researchers analysed health data on some 15.8 million mother–infant pairs as recorded in the US National Center for Health Statistics database.
This team focused only on births that occurred within the term. They compared each mothers BMI and weight gain to determine if there were any significant health concerns or deaths in their offspring.
Health issues deemed significant included admission to intensive care for any reason, records of seizures and any need for therapy or assisted ventilation.
The researchers found that, for women who were underweight or normal weight at the start of their pregnancy, the ideal weight gain ranged from 1st 12.5lb to 3st 11lb (12–24 kilograms).
Overweight women were recommended to gain between 22–53 lbs (10–24 kg), mildly obese women 18–35 lbs (8–16 kg) and the most obese 13–22 lbs (6–10 kg).
According to the team, these results suggest that pregnant women who have been overweight before becoming pregnant shouldn’t be encouraged or encouraged not to lose or maintain weight.
Full results of this study have been published in JAMA Network Open.