The days of being able to "eat for two" and giving in to our weird (and usually calorie rich) cravings are over. I have known quite a few women who gained 60 or more pounds during their pregnancy. I gained 40 pounds. Since I was already somewhat overweight, my doctor encouraged me not to gain more than 25 – 30 pounds. Easier said than done.
Medical professionals of course don't tell us to watch our weight and suggest that we drop down to close to normal weight before becoming pregnant, just because they enjoy worrying us. There are some very serious heath risks associated with being overweight during pregnancy, both for mom and baby.
Let's look at some of the risks an overweight pregnancy poses. The additional weight puts more stress on your body then pregnancy by itself. This can cause damage and stress to your Miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, diabetes and hypertension are all more prevalent in overweight women.
Pre-eclampsia and hypertension both involved high blood pressure, which can cause serious complications during delivery and almost always end in a c-section, where you encounter the additional risk of extensive bleeding because of the high blood pressure.
Pre-eclampsia and gestational toxicosis are both more common in overweight women. With this condition, blood pressure suddenly increases; kidney function decreases, and edemas may develop. The flow of nutrients through the placenta to the baby decreases, resulting in a smaller, less nourished baby, that's more prone to infections and diseases.
Diabetes often causes you to have a very big baby that cannot be delivered vaginally. C-sections are more common here as well.
If you are pregnant and overweight, make an effort to eat healthy and get some exercise each day. Skip the ice cream Sunday and grab a piece of fruit instead. Yes, cravings can be tough, but you'll do just fine as long as you keep the bigger picture in mind – a healthy baby and mom.