The Problems Caused by Being Overweight when Pregnant
There are many different problems that being overweight can cause for pregnant women. When a woman is planning to become pregnant she may want to try to lose weight prior to conception. Being overweight during pregnancy can cause a wide variety of problems for both the mother and the baby.
Usually when a woman is overweight she is more than 50% more likely to develop health-related complications during the latter part of pregnancy. Pregnant women are expected to gain weight during their pregnancy. If a woman is already overweight prior to becoming pregnant she will likely develop joint pain and other discomforts earlier in the pregnancy.
Most women start to put on extra weight during the second trimester. Under normal circumstances a woman will gain anywhere from 20 to 40 pounds during a pregnancy. Overweight women usually are encouraged to try and put on the minimum amount of weight so as to reduce the likelihood of health-related complications due to the weight gain. This is especially true in women who are expecting multiple children.
Sometimes women operate under the misconception that it is safe to attempt weight loss strategies while pregnant. This misconception can often lead to damage to the growth process for the baby. Women need as much strength as they can get during the time when they are carrying a child. Cutting calories is not an option when a woman is expecting a baby.
One of the main reasons that women gain weight during pregnancy is because the stored nutrition is intended to provide nourishment for the baby. If a woman cannot gain weight safely there is a likelihood that the child may be born with a very low birth weight and have health related complications due to not having access to proper nutrition in the womb.
It is more than okay for a woman to consult with a dietician during pregnancy. Doing so will help her to reduce the chances of pregnancy related diabetes. High blood pressure can also be reduced if women attempt to monitor their weight before becoming pregnant. In the event of a non-planned pregnancy, women can start to follow a proper diet immediately once they have realized they are pregnant.
Women also will notice that they are more likely to have a weak immune system if they are overweight prior to being pregnant. Not having proper immunity can be extremely difficult when trying to protect the unborn child from unwanted illnesses.