Healthy weight in pregnancy and beyond

Pregnant woman with her dog
Woman stretching in the park, preparing for a run

Support during pregnancy

Although you will be putting on weight in pregnancy as your baby grows, limiting the amount of extra weight you gain in pregnancy will improve your health and your baby’s, both now and in the future. Our advisors can offer free one to one support to help you and your partner or family build healthy habits whilst you are pregnant.

We will be guided by you, but sessions can cover:

  • Why thinking about weight is important in pregnancy
  • Eating healthily
  • Getting more active in pregnancy
  • Food myths when you’re pregnant
  • Foods to avoid in pregnancy
  • Essential nutrients for you and your baby.

Support after having a baby

Many mums benefit from support in returning to a healthy weight after childbirth. If you’ve had a baby in the past two years and meet the criteria below, our postnatal programme helps new mums build healthy habits.

As part of this support, you will be able to join our 12 week adult weight management programme, a 90 minute group session once a week (either online or face to face). To ensure that we can support you as best we can after having your baby, you will also receive four one to one online sessions with an advisor at a time that suits you. Our advisors can help you book this.

Can I join the programme?

You may be eligible if you:

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If you are pregnant or have given birth within the last 24 months

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Live, work, or study in Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire, or Milton Keynes

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Have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above

Or:

Have a BMI of 25 or above and have health conditions such as

  • Type 2 Diabetes
  • Hypertension
  • Cardiovascular Disease
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Dyslipidaemia
  • Non-diabetic Hyperglycaemia
  • Sleep Apnoea.

Or:

If you have a BMI of 23 and you are from Black African, African-Caribbean, or South Asian communities

Check your BMI

Not sure what your BMI is (or what a BMI is?)

Use the free NHS BMI calculator

How to get started

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Self-referral

Complete our online form or contact us. Once your form has been processed a health and wellbeing coach will be in touch to book your first appointment.

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Referral by health professionals

If you are a health professional, you can refer a patient through our online form.

Resources for new parents

For reliable advice on pregnancy, birth, and parenting, visit Start for Life. It’s your essential guide to having a healthy, happy baby covering useful topics from toothbrushing to weaning.

Start for life The Association for Nutrition Tommy’s
  • Mum holding newborn baby
  • Woman dieting, fitness and healthy food at home. Plus size fat woman tired after workout at home for losing weight and healthy lifestyle, fat burning exercises

Support for staying active

Visit your local council website to find support to stay active and healthy:

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Central Bedfordshire
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Bedford Borough
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Milton Keynes

Explore your options

Discover the support available in your community. No matter where you are in your journey, our team is here to support you.