Healthy pregnancy weight goals according to pre-pregnancy BMI
| Pre-pregnancy BMI(kg/m2) | Pregnancy weight goals |
| Less than 18.5 | 12.5-18 kg |
| 18.5-24.9 | 11.5-16 kg |
| 25.0-29.9 | 7-11.5 kg |
| 30.0 and above | 5-9 kg |
Women who are underweight, overweight, or obese should consult a dietitian to receive a personalized diet plan and advice.
- Avoid salted dried fruits, pistachios, cashews, and similar items. Choose cooking methods such as steaming, grilling, baking, or boiling instead.
- Use only skimmed or low-fat milk and dairy products. Avoid adding sugar or even satwari powder to milk during pregnancy.
- Avoid desserts and excessive sweet foods such as cakes, pastries, chocolates, ice cream, and sweets like shira, halwa, and other mithai, especially gulab jamun and rasgulla.
- Avoid fruit juices, as we want to preserve the healthy fiber.
- Limit the use of potatoes, corn, sago, refined flour (Maida), and bakery products.
- Avoid packaged food items.
- Eat regularly, allowing 3 to 4 hours between meals. It’s ideal to divide the two main meals with beverages, soups, or fruits.
- Aim to consume at least 3 liters of water or other liquids each day.
Most women gain weight in the following pattern:
- First trimester: 2–4 pounds (1–2 kilograms)
- Remaining pregnancy: 1 pound (0.5 kilogram) per week
Most of the weight gain is due to the growing baby, but the body also stores fat to make breast milk after birth.
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