Let us know about what should be the weight to get pregnant. Usually, couples take various factors into consideration while planning for their baby such as the time of ovulation, how long it will take to get pregnant, how the pregnancy will progress, when the baby is likely to be born, etc. Weight is also an important aspect when preparing for pregnancy.
Some women have difficulty conceiving if they are overweight or underweight. Research has shown that women who are obese or very thin may take longer to get pregnant than women of a healthy weight. Doctors also tell that women who are overweight during pregnancy are more likely to develop diabetes and high blood pressure .
Hence, achieving a healthy weight is essential not only to increase your chances of getting pregnant but also for the health of the baby and for a safe pregnancy. So one question that comes in the mind of all women is, ‘What is the ideal weight to get pregnant?’ There is no definite answer to this question as body mass index (BMI) is different for every woman. Doctors generally recommend that women have a BMI between 19 and 25 for the best chances of conceiving.
What role does weight play in conceiving?
Weight plays a major role when it comes to getting pregnant as weight affects the functioning of a woman’s body in many ways. Being underweight or overweight can make your pregnancy difficult. If a woman is underweight or overweight, it negatively affects the hormonal balance of her body, making it difficult for her to ovulate and conceive. Research shows that women who are underweight, obese or overweight have a higher chance of infertility .
On the other hand, women who are at a healthy weight before becoming pregnant have a better pregnancy experience, have easier deliveries and give birth to healthier babies. They are also less likely to develop gestational diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy .
In fact, every woman must gain a healthy weight before getting pregnant. Because doctors do not recommend losing weight after pregnancy. Thus, if a woman is desirous of becoming pregnant and is not at a healthy weight, she should try to attain a healthy weight during the pre-pregnancy phase.
What If You Are Underweight While Trying to Conceive?
Women are underweight due to excessive dieting or unhealthy eating habits. Being underweight can negatively affect your period cycle and make it harder to predict ovulation. This in turn makes it more difficult to conceive. Also, women who are underweight are at a higher risk of giving birth to an underweight baby.
What If You Are Overweight While Trying to Get Pregnant?
According to a research, obesity is found to be one of the main reasons in about 25 percent of the cases of infertility related to ovulation. Women who are obese or overweight are more likely to have hormonal imbalances, which can lead to irregular periods and hinder ovulation. They are more likely to have many thyroid- related disorders. Hormonal imbalance triggers a medical condition called PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) which further leads to weight gain and low ovulation, which can complicate trying to conceive. PCOS is also associated with high androgen levels and low estrogen levels, which prevent a woman’s ovaries from releasing eggs.
If an overweight woman becomes pregnant, she is at risk of many problems during pregnancy and at the time of delivery. Women who are overweight are more likely to deliver a baby mostly by cesarean section . In addition, children of overweight women are at increased risk of being born with multiple birth defects and high birth weight.
What is a healthy weight to get pregnant?
Women who want to get pregnant quickly are usually concerned about weight. In this regard, it is important to consider the body mass index (BMI) of a woman to determine her ideal weight before becoming pregnant. Generally, you are more likely to get pregnant if you have a BMI between 19 and 25. Therefore, the minimum weight gain to get pregnant should be within this range.
To calculate a woman’s BMI, height in inches and weight in pounds are measured. To get BMI, the number obtained by dividing these is multiplied by 703. Eating a balanced diet can help you achieve a healthy BMI, which can also increase your chances of conceiving.
Women hoping to become pregnant should maintain a healthy BMI and weight to improve their chances of conceiving. You can take your doctor’s advice and guidance on what should be your ideal weight while trying for a baby.
