Weight Gain During and After Pregnancy

About 50% of women say that their weight has increased during and after pregnancy. So a very common question arises - Is there any relationship between pregnancy and obesity? This article will discuss this question in detail because abnormal weight gain creates problems for both the mother and the fetus.

Extensive studies indicate that a weight gain of 8 to 10 kg (17.5 to 22 pounds) during pregnancy is normal. Generally the weight should come down to its normal level soon after the delivery. But in cases of some women, it does not happen that way. Their weight starts increasing during pregnancy and there is no significant weight loss after pregnancy. Many factors could be responsible for such a phenomenon. Sometimes, a pregnant woman is over fed under the false notion of providing double nutrition – to the mother and to the child. Many a time, a pregnant woman is not allowed to do any physical work. Lack of physical activity and overeating – these two factors are generally responsible for the abnormal weight gain during pregnancy.

Care should be taken to ensure that the weight gain does not exceed the level suggested by her doctor. For this, an expectant mother should be weighed regularly every month during the first six months of her pregnancy and every fortnight thereafter. Care should also be taken to ensure that there is no weight gain beyond 2 kg on an average, every month.

Hazards of excessive weight gain during pregnancy:

1. Effect on the expectant mother: Excessive food intake during pregnancy increases the weight which in turn may cause serious consequences. In case of obese women, the incidence of toxemia of pregnancy, allocation of fetus, unbearable pain and post natal bleeding is very high. Obese women generally do not have normal deliveries. Either a forceps delivery or a Cesarean operation is required. Besides this, the mother’s life is generally in danger for a few days following the delivery. Those women who have a family history of diabetes, heart disease or obesity, need to take extra precautions during their pregnancy.

2. Effects on the fetus: Maternal obesity increases the risk of fetus mortality by about four times. If the mother is obese during pregnancy, the chances of injury to the tender limps of the fetus during the delivery are also enhanced.

Dietary advices necessary during pregnancy:

Generally a pregnant woman develops health consciousness. She generally accepts all the suggestions and advice regarding health and soon implements them. Right dietary advice tendered to her at this stage may help her to permanently alter the feeding habits of the whole family and thereby prevent the obesity of her children too.

Aims of dietary control during pregnancy:

1. To check undue weight gain
2. To maintain the health of mother and child
3. Proper development of fetus

Diet plan for pregnant women:

1. Take high protein foods.
2. Restrict the intake of carbohydrates and fats.
3. Increase the intake of raw vegetables and fruits so as to supply vitamins and organic minerals to the body.
4. Restrict the use of ghee, butter, bread, biscuits, cake, sugar, chocolates, sweets, rice, etc.
5. There is no harm in consuming the following items freely: grain (ground or powdered by hands), vegetables, fruits, milk, buttermilk, curd, etc.
6. Restrict the intake of salt.

If a pregnant woman gives up her habit of eating too often, does all the household jobs, goes for a walk in the open air or does any light physical work and prevents obesity, she does not need to worry about any untoward incident during pregnancy of at the time of delivery.

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