On average, when carrying a single baby, women who are normal weight at the start of pregnancy and who eat normally during their pregnancy can expect to gain between 11-16 kilos.

As a guide 0-2 kilo’s during the first trimester and roughly about ½ a kilo a week from then on. It will be more if you are underweight at the start of pregnancy or carrying twins or multiple babies.

If you are overweight, obese or have a family history of diabetes, then you are at greater risk of developing diabetes in pregnancy, so it is particularly important to cut back on sugar, sugary drinks, sweets and sugary foods.

When should weight be gained?

Up to 2kg weight on average is gained during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Some women find that they actually lose weight during this period because of morning sickness and the associated loss of appetite.

Weight will gradually begin to increase after the 12th or 14th week, but even then there should only be a marginal weight gain up to the 20th week.

It is between the 20th and 30th week that the most weight is gained about 0.5 kg (1lb) per week. The speed of weight gain should slow down again after the 30th week of pregnancy.