Obesity in Pregnancy

Weight Gain during Pregnancy

Analysis shows that a weight gain of 8 to 10 kg (17.5 to 22 pounds) during pregnancy is normal. Generally the weight should come down to its normal level soon after the delivery. But in cases of some women, it doesn’t happen that way. Their weight starts increasing during pregnancy due to unnecessary rest, consumption of a rich diet and there is no significant weight-loss after pregnancy. Obesity creates danger to the lives of both mother & child. Lack of physical activity and over-eating –these two factors are generally responsible for the abnormal weight-gain during pregnancy.

Care should be taken to ensure the weight gain should not exceed the level indicated. For this, an expectant mother should be weighed regularly every month during the first six months of her pregnancy and every fortnight thereafter. It is necessary to ensure that there is no weight-gain beyond 2 kg on an average, every month. If a pregnant women goes for a walk in an open air or does some light physical work and thus prevents obesity, she does not need to worry about any untoward incident during pregnancy or at the time of delivery