Weight issues and pregnancy
There's been a lot in the media recently about weight issues in pregnancy. A recent study, partly funded by Tommy's, shows that an obese woman in her first pregnancy has a particularly high risk of delivering a low birthweight baby, of pre-eclampsia (a serious condition in pregnancy involving high blood pressure) and of premature birth. This risk is in addition to the risks already known to be linked with obesity in pregnancy such as large babies, diabetes, stillbirth, instrumental deliveries, postpartum haemorrhage (excessive bleeding after the birth) and caesareans..
How big is the problem?
It's thought that around 50% of women of childbearing age are now overweight or obese. At the start of pregnancy 18% of women are obese. Weight gain in pregnancy can also play an important role in the health of the baby and mother. Recent studies in the US and Europe suggest that between 20-40% of women gain more than the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy.
How much weight I should gain in pregnancy?
In the UK there are no set recommendations, although the range usually quoted is somewhere between 7-15kg (around 1 stone to 2 stone 5lbs). The FSA says that you shouldn't gain more than 10-12kg or 22-28lbs over the whole of the pregnancy.
In the US, women who are obese before pregnancy are recommended to gain no more than 7kg (just over 1 stone), whilst women of normal weight are recommended to gain between 11.5-16kg (around 1 stone 11lbs to 2 stone 7lbs).
The women who kept to these recommendations had fewer complications in pregnancy than women who put on more or less weight than was recommended.
What should I do?
Currently in the UK women are advised not to diet in pregnancy, but to eat healthy foods and to talk to their GP or midwife if they are concerned about their weight. Women are also advised to take 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day but if you're new to exercise see your GP first to agree an appropriate exercise programme.
If you are thinking about becoming pregnant and are underweight, overweight or obese make an appointment to see your GP now to discuss your options to become a healthy weight before trying for a baby.
If you are already pregnant then see either your GP or midwife. Currently there are no specific guidelines for midwives and doctors to follow for weight management during pregnancy but they should give you healthy eating and exercise advice and tips. In some areas of the country there are special pregnancy obesity clinics being set up to look after women who are obese and therefore at risk of pregnancy complications.
Speak to your GP or midwife about any concerns you have. You can also call a Tommy's midwife on 0870 777 30 60 or email midwife@tommys.org.
For more information on healthy eating and pregnancy why not listen to our podcast. You can do this simply by clicking on the link above or by visiting the podcast section of our website.