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Maintain a healthy weight

Being a good weight for your height improves your chances of conceiving and also makes for an excellent start to your pregnancy. By working out your body mass index you can find out what your ideal weight for your height is.

Start by calculating your Body Mass Index (BMI)

1. Work out your weight in kilograms, e.g. your weight is 62kg.
2. Work out your height in metres, e.g. your height is 1.7m.
3. Multiply your height in metres by itself, e.g. 1.7 x 1.7 = 2.89.
4. Divide your weight in kilograms by your answer to question 3, e.g. 62/2.89

Example answer, your BMI is 21kg/m2.

What does the answer mean?

• If your BMI is less than 18.5 you are underweight.
• If your BMI is between 18.5 and 25 you’re a healthy weight.
• If your BMI is between 25 and 30 you’re overweight.
• If it’s over 30 you’re medically obese.

What should I do if I’m worried about my BMI?

If you’re worried about your weight – whether you’re underweight or overweight – now is a good time to have a chat with your GP, who can offer lots of support and advice.

If you are concerned that you have an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia it’s important to also discuss this with your GP, as a pregnancy will put further stress on your system.