There is not really a minimum weight to be able to get pregnant. Ideally, the woman should be within normal weight considered normal to your height before you become pregnant. To know if someone is above, below or within the ideal weight, the Body Mass Index (BMI), which is obtained by dividing the weight by the square of the height → IMC = Weight (kg) ÷ Height (m) 2.
In this way, the following classification is obtained:
| BMI less than 16 | Severe emaciation |
| BMI from 16 to 16.9 | Moderate leanness |
| BMI from 17 to 18.4 | Lightness |
| BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 | Healthy weight range |
| BMI from 25 to 29.9 | Overweight |
| BMI from 30 to 34.9 | Obesity grade 1 |
| BMI from 35 to 39.9 | Obesity grade 2 |
| BMI above 40 | Grade 3 or morbid obesity |
Thus, those who intend to become pregnant should preferably be BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. For example, a woman who is 1.65 m tall and who is 60 kg before pregnancy has a BMI of 22, so she is within the weight range considered ideal or healthy for her height (BMI = 60 ÷ (1 , 65)2 = 22).
Thus, it can be concluded that the minimum weight recommended for conceiving is defined by the BMI of value equal to 18.5.
Women who become pregnant with low birth weight (BMI less than 18.5) have to gain 12.5 to 18 kg during pregnancy because there is a risk of limited growth during pregnancy or present Low weight at birth. The pregnant woman's health may be impaired if she is underweight.
This is because the nutritional reserves of the mother are essential for the development of the baby. In addition, in the absence of nutrients, the body prioritizes the baby and not the mother, which can generate nutritional problems for the woman, such as anemia.
So before getting pregnant it is recommended to control the weight (gain, lose or maintain) in order to keep it within normal limits and avoid future gestational problems that can affect the mother and baby.
Read too:
What is the ideal weight in pregnancy? How to calculate?
9 Things You Should Do Before Getting Pregnant
