Yet another reason to maintain a healthy body weight

Obesity and overweightness carries more than just a burden for the person experiencing it, but it can negatively influence the health of a growing fetus.

According to a recent New York times news report, obese women are more likely to have serious complications during their pregnancies. Most often, this condition results in premature babies delivered via cesarian section who need constant medical monitoring. It also seriously raises the medical costs to 20 times higher than a normal delivery.

To read the full story, go here.

With overweightness being pretty much a common state nowadays, this is paints a very sad pictue for our upcoming generations.

For these women, controlling weight before they have their babies is of upmost importance. In fact, overweight women are recommended to gain very little during their pregnancies and focus on eating better, moving more and reducing all activities that would harm their child.

I'm grateful for my healthy pregnancy and healthy child. I attribute it to staying very active, eating very well and limiting my weight gain (I only gained 15lbs). Perhaps the recommendation to gain 25 to 35 lbs should be reconsidered since most of my active friends who had easy deliveries and healthy, easy going babies also gained 20lbs or less. Just my opinion though....

Posted Jun 06, 2010 by .
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Comments for This Entry

GravatarLissa02:42PM on June 06, 2010

Wow! This story strikes too close to home. I've always struggled with my weight. I grew up on a farm where we worked alot and ate alot and managed to stay fit but husky, muscular (can I put those two words together?). Pre-wedding I looked really good at 5'8" and about 190. Then I went on birth control and got married (ate more often, less running around, no farm work) which I attribute to 10lbs or so. Its been 5 years, 4 pregancies(one miscarriage) and about another 30 pounds.
First pregnancy gained 25-30 pounds, baby was two weeks late and weighed 9.5.
Second pregnancy gained 35-40 pounds, baby was two weeks late and weighed 11.4.
Third pregnacy, had gestational diabetes so they took the baby a week early. He weighed 9.9.
Late babies and big babies were common on both sides of our family. My mom's smallest was 8 lbs, the largest was 10 something, all late too. But she is not, nor has ever been overweight.
I really want to have a fourth! But I want SO much to be able to get the weight off and KEEP it off and/or at a minimum. However I have not been able to lose the weight like I want to! There is history of hormonal imbalance in my family, so I am getting that checked, as I think it can contribute to lack of weight loss. My Dad's side of the family is built big, making me wonder what really is a good weight for me. The BMI chart just frustrates me.
I've been working out 1-2 times a week at the gym since January. I just LOVE the classes! It is a small (affordable!!!!) gym, but limited classes. With 3 kids 5 and under, I've got to work my schedule, theirs and the gyms to get there. Tough, but I am so happy when I go!! I haven't seen the weight drop like I'd like it too. I feel better, look better (I think), but not big scale change. Frustrating!
ANYWAY, can you help me? I've got 50 pounds to lose to get to my wedding weight. My biggest motivation factor is health, so I can live long for my kids. I think 190 at 5'8" is still considered obese though. But I would be DELIGHTED to get there!

GravatarSarah06:55PM on June 06, 2010

I don't think all physicians or midwives actually dole out the 25-35 lbs-gain advice any more. My midwives told me that as a height-impaired woman (har) my weight gain shouldn't exceed 20 lbs. Indeed, I only gained 15 - partly through lots of exercise (including weightlifting), partly because my stomach was squished and wouldn't hold much. But I didn't have an easy birth by any means (big baby, posterior, with a hand over her head - narrowly avoided c-section), I hemorrhaged badly and was subsequently anemic with milk supply issues. While I agree that very moderate weight gain during pregnancy and physical activity are essential, they're no guarantee of an easy entry to motherhood!

GravatarAmanda08:51AM on June 07, 2010

Yes, I read that article yesterday. I found this section interesting:

"Many experienced obstetricians complain that as Americans have grown larger, the perception of what constitutes obesity has shifted, leading to some complacency among doctors. At UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, Mass., Dr. Tiffany A. Moore Simas, the associate director of the residency program in obstetrics, demands that residents calculate B.M.I. as a routine part of prenatal treatment. “It’s one of my siren songs,” Dr. Moore Simas said, “because we are very bad at eyeballing people.”"

Part of me thinks, that's why things have gotten quite out of hand (in addition to all the obvious reasons.)

GravatarNutritionist Salary08:19PM on June 25, 2010

Intersting article. I like your site. I feel like I'm getting a nutritionist education.

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