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Special Cautions for Overweight Pregnant Women |
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Late -
Pregnancy
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Special Cautions for Overweight Pregnant Women If you are overweight as you begin pregnancy, you face special challenges. Being overweight can contribute to a variety of problems, including a greater chance of developing gestational diabetes or hypertension. You may have more problems with backaches, varicose veins and fatigue. Gaining too much weight (above the normal, expected amount) may increase the chances of a Cesarean delivery, especially for older women.
Women who are overweight may need to see their doctor more often during pregnancy. Ultrasound may be required to pinpoint a due date because it is harder to determine the size and position of your baby. Abdominal fat layers make manual examination difficult.
You may be screened for gestational diabetes. Your baby may need diagnostic tests as your delivery date approaches.
Try to gain your 15 to 25 pounds of total pregnancy weight slowly. Aim for a weight gain of 2 to 4 pounds the 1 st trimester, 5 to 7 pounds the 2nd trimester and 8 to 14 pounds the 3rd trimester. Weigh yourself weekly, and watch your food intake. Eat nutritious, healthful foods and eliminate those with mostly empty calories. The quality of the food you eat is more important than ever when you are pregnant.
Exercise can be beneficial, but be sure to discuss your plans with your doctor before you begin an exercise program. If you have never exercised before, walking and swimming may be the safest for you and your baby.
When You're Eating for More than Two
When you are eating for yourself and two or more babies, you face an even greater nutritional challenge. Taking your prenatal vitamin every day provides some assurance that you are getting the nutrients you need, but the best source of nutrients and calories for you and your developing babies are the foods you eat. Proper food choices can provide you with adequate protein, calories and calcium.
When you are expecting more than one baby, nutrition and weight gain are important. If you don't gain weight early in pregnancy, you are more likely to develop pre-eclampsia. Your babies are more likely to be significantly smaller at birth than others.
Target Weight Gain with Multiples. The target weight gain for women carrying more than one baby is quite a bit higher than for women carrying one baby. The desirable weight gain for women expecting twins is about 44 pounds.
Usually women who gain the targeted amount of weight during pregnancy lose it after delivery. One study showed that women who gained the suggested amount of weight during a twin pregnancy were close to their pre pregnant weight 2 years after delivery. You do not have to carry the extra weight forever, so don't worry about it now.
When you consider the average size of the babies (about 71/2 pounds each) and the weight of the placentas (11/2 pounds for each), plus the weight of the additional amniotic fluid, you can see where the extra weight gain goes. Don't be alarmed when your doctor discusses this target weight gain with you, even if it seems like a lot.
Research shows that higher weight gains (within targeted ranges) are associated with better fetal growth. Better fetal growth means healthier babies.
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