One-fifth of pregnant women in the United States are obese, according to a 2009 New York Times Article titled "New Goal for the Obese: Zero Gain in Pregnancy." If you are obese and pregnant, it is important to be mindful of your diet and weight gain. The rewards of these efforts include a potentially easier pregnancy as well as a smoother delivery.
Obesity and Its Pregnancy-related Dangers
You are considered obese if your pre-pregnancy body mass index or BMI is greater than 30. BMI is a body fat estimate that represents a relationship between your height and weight, according to BabyCenter.com. If you are pregnant and obese, you run a greater risk for developing high blood pressure and gestational diabetes. In addition, the American Pregnancy Association says it may be difficult for the doctor to measure the size of your uterus or hear a heartbeat, or to have a vaginal delivery if the baby is larger than average.
Weight Gain Guidelines
In May of 2009, the Institute of Medicine revamped guidelines set in place for years stating that obese women should gain no more than 15 lbs. during pregnancy, according to the New York Times article. The revised guidelines state that obese women should now gain no more than 11 lbs.
Health Benefits
A study conducted by St. Louis University obstetrician Dr. Raul Artal followed six obese pregnant women with gestational diabetes. In the June 2007 issue of
"Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism," the study said obese women who follow weight guidelines during pregnancy experience health benefits. The study results showed that those who maintained or even lost some weight were less likely to have a larger-than-normal newborn and showed no risk of pregnancy complications or harmed fetal growth.
Cutting Calories
Because obese women have an extra reserve of calories within stored fat, Baby Center says it is safe for them to gain little if any weight or even to lose a few pounds. It is not safe, however, to intentionally cut out healthy calories that could deprive a baby of necessary nutrients.
Exercise
Many obese pregnant women are somewhat new to exercise as part of a diet and weight loss regime. If you are obese and pregnant and want to begin an exercise regimen, Baby Center recommends engaging in beginner exercises. Examples include walking, swimming and low-impact aerobics.
Eating from the Food Groups
If you are obese and trying to stick to a healthy pregnancy diet, the March of Dimes recommends you eat foods from each of the five food groups daily. The five food groups include grains, vegetables, fruits, milk products and proteins. It is also important to take a prenatal vitamin that contains the right mix of vitamins and minerals, such as folic acid and calcium.
References
- New York Times: New Goal for the Obese: Zero Gain in Pregnancy
- BabyCenter.com: Plus-size and Pregnant: How to Manage Your Weight During Pregnancy
- Reuters: Obese Pregnant Women Can Safely Lose Weight
- American Pregnancy Association: Eating for Two When Over/ or Under Weight
- March of Dimes: Eating and Nutrition
