How Much Weight Should You Gain During Pregnancy?

Pregnant women tend to gain tremendous amounts of weight, usually because they try eating for two. On the other hand some women gain very little weight during pregnancy. Both these scenarios can be detrimental for the child's health. The recommended healthy pregnancy weight gain depends on a mother's starting weight, women with higher weight are recommended to gain less during pregnancy, according to a latest study. "Regardless of a mother's starting weight, unhealthy weight gain in pregnancy is now very common and carries significant health risks for mothers and babies," said Teede, a lead researcher.
 

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After conducting a meta analysis by studying 23 previously conducted studies in developed countries researchers tried to pool data from divergent studies to tease out common trends.

The researchers tried to look at how much weight women gained during pregnancy and whether it met the weight gain recommended by the U.S. Institute of Medicine.

Weight gain below the recommended amount was associated with a higher risk of having a small baby and preterm delivery, the researchers found. On the other hand, packing on more weight than recommended was tied to a greater risk of having a larger and heavier infant (a condition called fetal macrosomia) and a cesarean delivery.

Institute of Medicine guidelines recommend that underweight women gain from 28 to 40 pounds during pregnancy. Normal-weight women should gain between 25 and 35 pounds. Overweight women should add just 15 to 25 pounds. And obese women should limit weight gain to 11 to 20 pounds.

Teede said that doctors need to monitor weight gain in pregnancy and to help women eat healthier and stay mobile and active.

"Women need to be aware of what their individual recommended healthy pregnancy weight gain is and note that the old stories of confinement or resting throughout pregnancy and eating for two are not healthy for mothers or their babies," she said. Other specialists agreed.

"Pregnancy is not a time for 'eating for two,' but a great time to eat healthfully and exercise," said Dr. Aaron Caughey, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Oregon Health and Science University.

It is crucial that women gain the required amount of weight and exercise before and during pregnancy. According to Dr.Jill Rabin of Northwell Health in New Hyde Park, doctors need to help patients to optimize their weight before they become pregnant.

Rabin, who is co-chief of ambulatory care for Northwell's women health program also said if a woman takes care of herself before the pregnancy she will have a healthier

(Inputs from ANI)