Many women see pregnancy as a time to indulge their sweet tooth, their salty cravings, or eat for two. Most women manage to do so while staying healthy. And although the may overindulge once in a while, for the most part they stick to foods that provide their body and their baby with the energy needed to grow and thrive. For some women, however, a balance is never struck and pregnancy weight may take years to shed after the baby is born.
In the United States alone, according to a recent report on MSNBC, more than a third of normal weight and more than half of overweight or obese women gain more than their doctors recommend during pregnancy. This is a dangerous trend, since overeating during pregnancy can transfer those extra calories to the fetus. Growth and development can be affected by spikes in blood sugar and excess caloric intake, so maintain a healthy diet for a healthy baby.
How Much Is Enough?
Many doctors will tell a pregnant woman that it matters less how much weight you gain and more how you gain that weight. There are two types of weight gained during pregnancy: the weight of the actual growing baby and associated needs and the weight that is gained through overeating or making poor nutritional choices. On average, women at a healthy pre-pregnancy weight should gain 25 to 25 pounds and women who are overweight pre-pregnancy should aim for 11 to 25 pounds. But again, how you gain that weight is what’s important.
Eating unhealthy, fat-laden foods will add one extra pounds rapidly. A pregnant woman may feel tired and sick if she regularly indulges in high-calorie foods, since she isn’t getting the right nutrition and energy from her meals. In this case, a pregnant woman would be overweight and undernourished. It is much healthier to make smart choices and give the body fuel. Overweight and well nourished is the better choice every time.
Excessive weight gain during pregnancy, or an existing obesity problem before pregnancy, can greatly impact the mother’s and child’s health. Several dangerous medical conditions have been tied to an overweight or obese mother. Dr. Yeh at the University of Buffalo, where a recent study compared overweight mothers to healthy weight mothers, says, “This increase in obesity is important to the obstetrician and the patient because obesity can be a high-risk situation in a pregnant woman.”
These risks may include the following, according to Natural News:
– Pre-eclampsia. This disorder, characterized by high blood pressure, occurs when blood vessels constrict and decrease blood flow. Many organs, including the liver and kidneys, may be affected. If untreated, pre-eclampsia can result in the death of the mother and/or the baby.
– Gestational diabetes. With this condition, the blood sugar level increases during pregnancy, then returns to normal after delivery. This condition is less serious, but it can increase the mother’s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in later life. It may also have effects on the baby, but little is known about this.
– Larger babies. A study conducted by the US National Institutes of Health discovered that women who gained over 53 pounds during pregnancy gave birth to babies that were heavier than those born to women who managed pregnancy weight better. Heavier babies are more likely to stay heavy throughout their lives and have greater chances of developing medical problems in later life such as asthma, allergies, cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
A recent study conducted at the University of North Carolina suggests that the condition of pregnancy may trigger binge-eating disorders in some women. Characterized by repeated episode of binge eating and feelings of shame or disgust about the behavior, such a condition can cause serious problems for the pregnant mother and child. For unknown reasons, it appears that binge eating is the only eating disorder associated with new onset during pregnancy, possible because of the mentality of “eating for two.” High stress and biological components may also be at play.
Whatever the cause, binge eating during pregnancy should be discussed with a doctor. Women struggling with this disorder should be open with their doctors, not feel ashamed. As doctors learn more about this eating disorder’s tie to pregnancy, treatment options will become clearer. No woman should feel ashamed about this condition, but she should certainly get the help she requires before her health or the baby’s is jeopardized.
References:
– Adams, M. (2006, Jan.) “Overeating can cause pregnancy problems, study finds.” Natural News.
– Boyles, S. (2007, Sept). “Pregnancy Triggers Binge Eating in Some.” Web MD.
– Cheng, M. (2010, Aug). “Overeating in pregnancy makes bigger babies.” MSNBC.
– VanderLaan, J. (2008). “Weight Gain in Pregnancy.” Birthing Naturally.
