Gaining weight is a normal and healthy part of carrying a baby, and you should not try to lose weight until after your baby is born. You can control the amount of weight you gain by exercising regularly and enjoying nutritious foods from each of the food groups.
Decreases Nutrient Supply
Your baby needs many different nutrients to grow into a healthy baby. Dieting often means restricting certain foods from your diet, but this may prevent your growing little one from getting what he needs to be healthy. Of course you should restrict foods like cookies, candy and pastries because they are empty of nutrition, but you should not be trying to lose pounds. Focus on eating healthy foods so you baby gets what he needs, and then concentrate on shedding pounds after you deliver. You need to consume fruits, vegetables, whole grains, milk and lean meat products in order to supply your baby with the nutrients he needs to be healthy.
Causes Low Birth Weight
You need to gain a healthy amount of weight while pregnant to ensure that your baby also gains a healthy amount of weight. Low-birth-weight babies can experience difficulty thriving after birth as well as many health problems. Women who do not gain enough weight during the second trimester are at a higher risk for delivering a low-birth-weight baby. You should add healthy foods to your diet in order to gain about a pound a week during your second and third trimesters. Attempting to lose weight puts your baby in danger of not gaining enough weight, which can put her at an increased risk of lifelong problems.
Prevents Proper Development
Your baby will form all of his muscles, bones and body systems in the nine months that you carry him. Proper nutrients are essential for the proper formation of each body part. Losing weight while pregnant can impact how well your baby develops and may lead to improper development of some bodily systems. This is particularly true if you restrict your intake of protein from foods like meat and nuts, which are typically higher in fat and calories than other foods. It is important to include such foods in your diet and to avoid shedding pounds in order to encourage proper fetal development.
References
- "The Fastest Way to Get Pregnant Naturally"; Christopher Williams; 2001
- "Feed the Belly: The Pregnant Mom's Healthy Eating Guide"; Frances Largeman-Roth; 2009
- "Low-Calorie Dieting for Dummies"; Susan McQuillan; 2005
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