Is eating for two over? The Institute of Medicine now recommends obese women gain about 11 to 20 pounds during pregnancy.  Some health experts say the new recommendations may still allow for too much extra weight for obese pregnant women.

Weight Gain in Pregnancy
According to the CDC, about 4.3 million babies were born in the U.S. in 2007. During pregnancy, a woman needs to provide nourishment for herself and for the growing fetus. In 2009, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued updated guidelines on pregnancy weight gain, recommending women of normal pre-pregnancy weight gain 25 to 35 extra pounds.

By the end of the pregnancy, the weight of the baby accounts for about one-fourth of the total weight gain (roughly 7 to 8 pounds). Another seven pounds is for maternal stores of nutrients, protein and fat. The rest of the weight can be attributed to the placenta (1 to 2 pounds), amniotic fluid (2 pounds), uterus (2 pounds), breast tissue (2 pounds), body fluids (4 pounds) and maternal blood (4 pounds).

Obesity and Pregnancy
Previously, health experts recommended obese women gain at least 15 pounds during pregnancy. The 2009 IOM guidelines now recommend a weight gain of 11 to 20 pounds. However, some health experts say the new recommendations may still allow for too much extra weight for obese pregnant women. Research shows obese women are more likely than normal-weight women to have pregnancy-related complications, like gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, preeclampsia, higher rates of C-section delivery and infant death. Research also shows babies born to obese moms are more likely to have excess body fat and insulin resistance. Thus, the cycle of obesity and health problems may be perpetuated into the next generation. Raul Artal, M.D., Obstetrician/Gynecologist with Saint Louis University says obese women who gain less than 10 pounds while pregnant are much less likely to develop pregnancy-related complications.

Artal says the ideal time to lose weight is between pregnancies. However, he says it’s safe for obese women to lose weight during pregnancy, as long as they follow a balanced diet and exercise program. In fact, insulin-using obese women who follow a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables and walk at least 30 minutes a day are often able to stop taking insulin. Registered Dietitian, Rose Catanzaro, R.D., says pregnant women can eat smaller, more frequent meals to fuel their bodies and stave off hunger.

AUDIENCE INQUIRY
If you have any specific questions about proper weight gain during your pregnancy, speak with your obstetrician or health care provider. For general information about pregnancy:
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, http://www.acog.org
American Pregnancy Association, http://www.americanpregnancy.org
March of Dimes, http://www.marchofdimes.com

Research compiled and edited by Barbara J. Fister

© 2010 Medstar Television, Inc. All Rights Reserved
 

 Subscribe RSS

  Bookmarks  Email This   Hits : 501

Trackback ( 0 )
Trackback Link for This Article

Comments (0)

Your Comment

Name* Email* Website Title* UBBCode B i u Quote Code List List item Img URL Comment*   0 Characters Verify Code*    Notify me when new comment post on this article.  I have read and agree to Term and Agreement By submitting your comments ABC 36 we reserve the right, at our sole discretion, delete, or deny approval of your comments for any reason at any time without further notice. We do not rent, sell, or exchange your name, personal information, or email address to third-party companies for their marketing purposes. Please allow up to 24 hours for your post to be approved. Thanks from ABC 36 for your comment on our site wtvq.com