Excess Weight Gain during Pregnancy: A Risk to Mother and Child
As you move up the pregnancy ladder, there comes a tendency of excess along with the growing tummy, especially when it comes to eating. Initially you blame it on the tricks being played by the fluctuating hormones. However, after a few months, the hormones are more or less stable and your body is more capable of adjusting to the new curve balls it throws. But the pile of food on your plate only seems to be increasing in constant proportion to your growing tummy. You pacify yourself by saying that you are now eating for two. After all, your body now does need more energy than before to sustain another life.
Quite right, but only if you apply it in the healthiest sense. However, when you take pregnancy as an excuse to let your hair down, binge, and gain weight, it could eventually cause health complications for both you and your baby. The recommended weight gain during pregnancy is not more than 40 pounds. If the weighing scale starts tipping over and above, it’s time to control your diet. If you were already overweight when you got pregnant, the recommended weight gain would differ. Therefore, it is advisable to consult your doctor before starting on an eat-all-diet-for-two.
Heavy mommy = Heavy baby. A medical research estimates that nearly all overweight mothers tend to deliver heavy babies. Some of the babies can weigh as much as nine pounds and more. A chubby and healthy looking baby may seem like a blessing, but those nine pounds can come crashing down on your baby’s health, short term as well as long term.
In terms of delivery, the heavy weight can cause your baby to have broken collar bones or stuck shoulders. On a long term basis, a heavy baby is more prone to tip towards obesity and related health risks such as cholesterol and diabetes.
Delivery trouble. There is a growing misconception among pregnant women that extra fat means extra padding to protect the baby and ease the delivery. The truth is far from it. As mentioned earlier, a heavy mother has a greater risk of delivering a heavier baby, which is not so great news if it is going to be a natural birth. Yes, the vagina is stretchable, but there is a limit to its stretching. A large baby can cause vaginal tearing or excessive bleeding. Sometimes, it could mean the doctor opting for a C-section. Plus, losing those extra pounds post delivery is no cake walk either.
This does not mean that you begin dieting or to stop eating altogether. Eating less will also lead to health complications for you and your baby. Consult your doctor and plan on eating a healthy and nutritious diet. Use your physician’s guidance to include the right type of food and supplements along with proper rest and exercise to gain the required pounds and to have a healthy pregnancy and childbirth.