Can Overweight Women Lose Pounds During A Pregnancy?

Approximately 20 percent of pregnant women in America are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Being overweight or obese during your pregnancy increases your risk for gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, preeclampsia and delivery by cesarean. Extra pounds also put your newborn at risk for premature birth, certain birth defects and childhood obesity. Although a small amount of weight loss in your first trimester may be acceptable to your physician, you shouldn't try to lose weight while pregnant.

Pregnancy Weight Gain

It’s recommended that women who are at a healthy weight gain anywhere between 24 and 32 lbs. during pregnancy, according to “Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy.” Of that amount, placental weight is 1.5 lbs., amniotic fluid weight is 2 lbs., increased blood volume weighs 3 to 4 lbs., extra fluid weighs between 2 and 3 pounds, breast enlargement adds 1 to 3 lbs., uterus enlargement adds 2 pounds, pregnancy-related fat stores add approximately 6 to 8 pounds and the baby may weigh 6.5 to 9 lbs. In general, overweight women should only gain 15 to 25 lbs.during pregnancy, while obese women should gain only 11 to 20 lbs total. Work with your obstetrician or midwife to determine the weight gain that’s right for your body.

Associated Weight Loss

It's common for some women to lose a few pounds of weight during the first trimester of pregnancy due to the nausea and vomiting associated with morning sickness, according to BabyCenter. This type of weight loss generally doesn’t affect the developing fetus, which still receives the necessary calories. It’s also possible, according to BabyCenter, for overweight or obese women to initially lose — or not gain — weight, in the first trimester. Because overweight women have extra calories stored in their fat surplus, losing a few pounds or maintaining the same weight isn’t usually considered harmful.

Pre-Pregnancy Weight

The Mayo Clinic, the March of Dimes and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention each advise overweight and obese women to receive counseling with a registered dietician or other qualified health care provider before becoming pregnant. Achieving the healthiest possible weight prior to conception is healthier for both you and your baby. Eating a proper diet and starting regular exercise before conception increases your chances for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy newborn.

Weight Gain Management

Most weight gain in pregnancy takes place during the second and third trimesters. Generally, active women of a healthy weight need to consume a higher amount of additional calories to fuel their pregnancies than overweight or sedentary women. The Mayo Clinic recommends eating an additional 150 to 200 calories per day in your first trimester and 300 to 500 additional daily calories in your second and third trimesters. In general, overweight women can keep their extra calories at the lower end of those ranges. While not gaining weight in the second trimester is associated with low birth weight in the babies of women who are at a healthy weight, for overweight but otherwise healthy women, below-average weight gain in the second trimester doesn’t usually affect fetal growth. Dieting to lose weight at any point in your pregnancy, however, deprives your baby of nutrients and can be detrimental to its health.