Pregnancy and body mass index
A recent study conducted by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists found that the majority of pregnant women (69%) are not entirely sure what weight gain is considered “healthy” during pregnancy.
The interview was conducted with 644 women with a high level of education and this leads to expect even higher percentages if the survey is extended to those who have less access to health information.
What does it mean to be of normal weight?
It means having a body mass index between 20 and 24 (a value that you can determine from the table above).
Many women do not know what their body mass index is before pregnancy and therefore do not know how to regulate the correct weight gain exposing themselves to what are called “complications” of pregnancy.
In fact, if you gain too much weight during pregnancy, the risks to your child’s health increase, including childhood obesity.
Pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, pre-term delivery and hypertension are also more frequent in women when pregnancy weight gain is excessive.
To avoid all this, it would be appropriate that in the preconception phase (or at least at the beginning of pregnancy) the woman was aware of her own body mass index.
It would also be important to monitor your weight during pregnancy, avoiding doing it only when the gynecologist puts us on the scale at the time of the routine visit.
Obviously, even if these are general guidelines, they must be adapted to the pregnancy you are experiencing and remember that every pregnancy has its own story.
What to do to not increase too much?
Light exercise, such as swimming or yoga , are great aids in staying fit and reducing stress.
Healthy eating and weight tracking without obsessing over it help ensure a healthy pregnancy.
Of course, not all indications are perfectly suited to every pregnancy. There is no universal rule and every woman must find her own balance . For this reason it is important to talk to your gynecologist or midwife to understand the most suitable methods for the individual situation to experience a healthy pregnancy.
Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.
Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.