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Danger: Pregnancy Weight Gain By Jennifer Polimino   |
"How much weight should I gain while I'm pregnant?" is the most common question I hear. And I'm glad women are asking, because gaining too much weight is dangerous for both mom and baby.Thanks to myths like, "when you're pregnant, you should eat enough for two," the majority of moms-to-be are gaining too much weight. Right now, approximately six million women are pregnant, and over three million of them are either overweight or obese. Even more surprising is that 69 percent of normal weight women put on excessive weight during pregnancy. Why is this disturbing? Because being overweight during pregnancy increases your risk for: Premature birth Birth defects Gestational diabetes Cesarean section (with complication) Toxemia I don't have to tell you that any one of these things can lead to heartbreak. But that's not all. The risk is to the baby as well.Infants of overweight mothers are twice as likely to have congenital heart defects and other birth defects, according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics.

In addition, children of overweight mothers are 15 times more likely to suffer from weight problems themselves, who are then faced with a lifelong struggle and medical risks.Are you concerned about having a good delivery experience? (What expectant mom isn't?) A study published in Obstetrics and Gynecology showed that overweight women have longer labor and more C-sections, posing greater risks to complications, including blood clots, infection, and excessive bleeding.

So the question, "How much weight should I gain during pregnancy?" is a very important one, indeed. Following are two charts. The first one shows you how to determine if you're underweight, normal, overweight, or obese, according to your height.

The second chart shows you how much weight you should gain, depending on your current body type.

Height 5'
Underweight <102 lbs
Normal 102-132
Overweight 133-147
Obese >148

Height 5'2
Underweight <107
Normal 107-141
Overweight 142-157
Obese >158

Height 5'4
Underweight <116
Normal 116-152
Overweight 153-170
Obese >171

Height 5'6
Underweight <123
Normal 123-161
Overweight 162-180
Obese >181

Height 5'8
Underweight <130
Normal 130-171
Overweight 172-191
Obese >192

Height 5'10
Underweight <138
Normal 138-181
Overweight 182-202
Obese >203

HEALTHY WEIGHT GAIN GUIDE

Pre-Pregnancy Weight How Much You Should Gain

Underweight: 30 - 40 pounds
Normal: 25 - 35 pounds
Overweight: 15 - 25 pounds
Obese: 15 pounds
Having twins 35 - 45 pounds

Please Note: These are approximate weight guidelines for general information. The next time you hear someone say, "Eat up, you're eating for two," go ahead and roll your eyes. Eating for your baby is not the same as eating for two adults. You need just 300 extra calories a day while you're pregnant. That would be a 6-oz. grilled chicken breast or 24 almonds.Keeping your weight under control during pregnancy is not difficult when you are aware of how much you should eat while you're expecting. I am confident that with knowledge and a determination, we can turn those dangerous statistics around.

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