Special care during pregnancy:
Blood test at 28weeks (glucose
tolerance test - GTT) to check for
diabetes.
You may be offered an additional scan to
measure the baby’s growth and position
later in pregnancy.
Talk with the anaesthetist about epidural
pain relief for labour and anaesthesia for
a caesarean section if that becomes
necessary.
You may be prescribed drugs to help
prevent a deep vein thrombosis.
Signs of a clot in your lungs (PE) include
shortness of breath, pain in your chest and
sometimes a cough with blood streaked
mucus. Inform the midwife or GP or if
concerned call an ambulance (call 999).
If you have developed gestational diabetes ,
your GP will follow this up by offering a
fasting blood glucose test approximately six
to eight weeks after your baby’s birth.
Avoid the combined oral contraceptive pill but
you are encouraged to use contraception to
give your body time to recover between
pregnancies.
Maternity
Healthy Weight in
Pregnancy
Special care in labour:
You will be cared for in hospital.
Any questions?
You may be encouraged to have a
drip up in case of problems and we will
proactively deliver the placenta.
Please ask your midwife, obstetrician or GP if
you have any questions.
Early skin to skin contact and breast
feeding will be encouraged.
At all times you will be treated with dignity and
respect and will be involved in all discussions
about your care and the risks associated with
your pregnancy.
Postnatal care
As well as benefitting your baby, breast
feeding is encouraged for six to nine
months to help use up the fat laid down
in pregnancy.
Eat regular, healthy meals of normal
portion size.
Exercise to lose weight between
pregnancies. This will reduce the risks
in a subsequent pregnancy and stop
weight gain between pregnancies.
You will be encouraged to get up and
about as soon as possible to reduce the
risk of clots in your veins (DVT) and may
need to continue with medication to
prevent this for at least another week.
For more information try:
www.nhs.uk NHS Choices
www.Tommies.org - A charity that produces
helpful advice
www.nhs.uk/start4life/Pages/Welcome-toStart4Life
CMACE/RCOG (2010) Joint guideline: Management
of Women with Obesity in Pregnancy CMACE/RCOG
London www.cemach.org.uk
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
(2010) Weight Management in pregnancy and after
childbirth London: NICE. Available at:
www.nice.org.uk
This leaflet gives you information
on:why you should watch your weight in
pregnancy;
How to limit the amount of weight
you gain;
what to expect as you go through your
pregnancy if your BMI is 30 and over.
Date of publication: May 2011
Date for review: March 2013 ©
Bedford Hospital NHS Trust
What is a BMI?
Your midwife or GP will work out your BMI
at booking. This will be written in the
pregnancy notes you have.
What you can do to gain a healthy
amount of weight in pregnancy
Eat healthily:
Myth busters
The BMI is relative to your weight and height.
Having a BMI of 30 or more increases the
risks in pregnancy, childbirth and for the
baby. It is recommended that you give birth in
the Cygnet Wing under consultant-led care
There is no need to ‘eat for two’
Limit the weight you gain to 5-7kg; the more
weight you gain, the greater the risks.
This table indicates the amount of weight
you should expect to gain during
pregnancy depending on your BMI at
booking
Losing weight when pregnant is not
recommended.
The body does NOT need any additional food
or calories when you become pregnant just a
balance of healthy foods. The only weight you
need to gain comes from the baby and changes
in your breasts, blood volume and uterus.
BMI at
booking
Weight status
Recommended
weight gain
18.5-24.9 Normal
11.5-16kg (about 2
stones)
25-29.9
Overweight
7-11.5kg (about 11/2
stones)
30 and
over
Very overweight
(obese)
5-7kg (about 1
stone)
If your BMI is 30 or more then the
following care is relevant to you.
Pre-pregnancy advice:
Try to lose weight prior to pregnancy.
Once pregnant you are recommended to
have:
5mg folic acid supplementation daily to
reduce risk of abnormality in the foetus.
10micrograms Vitamin D
supplementation daily during pregnancy
and whilst breast feeding.
Be wary of CRAVINGS!
Normally you do not need the foods you crave!
If a craving is persistent talk to your midwife/
GP.
Manage pregnancy symptoms from feeling sick
to heartburn by:
Eating small meals regularly.
Always have breakfast such as cereal or toast.
Aim for at least five portions of fruit and
vegetables, or salad, each day.
Cut down on sugary and fatty foods, e.g.
sweets, chocolate, crisps, chips, fried foods,
sugary fizzy drinks; have these no more than
once or twice a week.
Aim for one pint of low fat milk per day (low fat
yogurt and low fat cheese can be taken instead
of some of the milk).
Avoid alcohol.
Keep active
Walking or swimming are good ways to keep
active whilst pregnant.
Further advice can be found:
In the ‘pregnancy book’;
In the ‘healthy eating for pregnancy’ leaflet;
On NHS Choices at www.nhs.uk; By
speaking to your midwife, GP or
obstetrician;
A dietitian who can give you help and
support on what to eat to control your
weight gain.
BMI 30 and over increases the
risks of:
Developing temporary diabetes of
pregnancy;
Having a raised blood pressure and preeclampsia;
Having a blood clot in your legs (DVT);
Not being able to see a clear ultrasound
picture and being able to hear the babies
heart beat;
Having a large or ill baby needing
increased monitoring which can lead to
complications in labour;
Having a Caesarean section;
Difficulty in siting an epidural or giving an
anaesthetic;
Having a wound infection , leading to a
longer hospital stay;
(Rarely) having
complications following
surgery and delivery
requiring intensive
hospital care.
Having a still birth or
intra uterine death.