The obese woman’s pregnancy needs to be more controlled because being overweight increases the risk of developing complications during pregnancy, such as high blood pressure and diabetes in the mother, as well as problems with malformations in the baby, such as heart defects.
Although dieting during pregnancy is not recommended, it is essential to control the quality of the diet and the caloric intake so that the baby has all the nutrients necessary for its development, without the pregnant woman gaining too much weight.
- If a woman is well above her ideal weight.
- It is important that she lose weight before becoming pregnant to achieve an acceptable body mass index and thus reduce the risks associated with being overweight during pregnancy.
- Weight loss before becoming pregnant will also help a woman feel the baby when she is pregnant.
- As excess fat prevents an obese woman from feeling her baby moving.
The weight a woman should gain during pregnancy depends on the woman’s weight before becoming pregnant, which is evaluated by body mass index, which links weight to height, so if the body mass index before pregnancy was:
In some cases, obese women may not gain weight or gain very little during pregnancy, because as the baby grows and the pregnancy progresses, the mother may lose weight by eating healthier and, as the baby’s weight increases, the mother loses weight the scale does not change.
The risks of pregnancy in obese women involve health problems for both the baby and the mother.
Obese pregnant women have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, eclampsia and gestational diabetes, but the baby may also be overweight. Abortion and the development of baby malformations, such as heart defects or spina bifida, are more common in obese women, as well as an increased risk of having a premature baby.
The postpartum of obese women is also more complicated, with an increased risk of difficulty curing, so losing weight before becoming pregnant can be a great way to have a pregnancy without complications.
The diet of the obese pregnant woman must be balanced and varied, but the amounts must be calculated by the nutritionist so that the pregnant woman has all the nutrients necessary for the development of the baby. In addition, it may be necessary to prescribe supplements based on the body weight of the pregnant woman.
It is essential not to eat fatty foods, such as chips or cold cuts, sweets and soft drinks.
For more information on what to eat during pregnancy, see: Foods during pregnancy.