Pre-Pregnancy Weight & BMI

Maintain A Healthy Weight

Pre conception weight is a critical factor in determining the recommended amount of weight you should gain once you become pregnant, as it directly influences your baby's birth weight. 

A healthy weight gain during pregnancy is associated with optimal outcomes for women and baby–you’ll both be well nourished, your baby will be more likely to grow to an appropriate gestational size and you’ll have an easier time carrying your baby to term and returning to your weight before the pregnancy.

Studies show that underweight women are more likely to give birth to small babies, even though they may gain the same amount in pregnancy as normal weight women. Overweight women have increased risks for problem in pregnancy such as gestational diabetes or high blood pressure. 

Women who have too little body fat can't produce enough estrogen, causing reproductive cycles to come to a halt, while women who have too much body fat produces too much estrogen, which can prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs. 
So reaching and maintaining a healthy weight can boost your odds of conception and even reduce the risk for complications during pregnancy.
All women of child-bearing age should achieve a healthy nutritional status and BMI and which lies between 18.5 and 25 kilogram per meter square. 

BMI = Weight (kg) / [Height (m)]2

The Body Mass Index or BMI is a simple index of height for weight and it is commonly used to classify overweight and obesity. Approaching a normal body weight already prior to conception through beneficial lifestyle changes, in terms of diet and physical activity, can markedly minimize the risk of unhealthy pregnancy outcomes, both for the mother and the child.

Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculator

Measuring System	Metric (Kgs, Cms)US (lbs, inches)
Height (Cms)
Weight (Kgs)
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Normal BMI range
The calculations are based on WHO recommendations.

Pre-pregnancy BMI (kg/m2) is categorized as below :-

Underweight (<18.5)
Normal (18.5-25)
Overweight (25-30)
Obese (>30)
Very Obese (>35)

Unhealthy BMI during pregnancy can put both the mother and the child at risk of increased complications. Therefore it is very important to achieve healthy weight prior to conception for better pregnancy outcomes.