Expectant mothers with a normal or underweight body mass index (BMI) should look to gain no more than 3st 11lb (24 kg) while pregnant so their baby doesn’t get 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.
Excessive gestational weight gain is linked to pregnancy complications such as gestational hypertension [high blood pressure] and diabetes, caesarean delivery, postpartum weight retention and obesity in later life.
