The Danger Of Too Much Weight Gain During Pregnancy

Weight gain during pregnancy is something normal because obviously, you have a fetus growing inside of you. That said, there’s a cut-off point that differentiates a normal weight gain and a problematic one. 

The health ‘burden’ of too much weight gain

There’s an enduring myth that says a pregnant mother should eat for two. In reality, however, so long as you eat a balanced diet, loaded with all the right nutrition and in the right quantity, you are eating optimally. Eating too much is never a good thing especially when one is pregnant. Being overweight does not only increase the likelihood for the mother to experience some health problems, it also risks the fetus as well. Below are some conditions associated with excessive weight gain:

#1 Diabetes

When it comes to excessive weight gain, diabetes is a no brainer. For pregnant women who have diabetes, it is easy to experience increased blood sugar levels during pregnancy. After delivery, children of these women are likely to be overweight at the age of three. They can also get other conditions such as yellow skin, breathing problems and have low blood sugar.

Diet

Your doctor or a nutritionist can help teach you how to keep your blood glucose within a healthy range. They can also instruct you how to divide ideal portions and arrange ideal meal timings.

It is well known that vegetables, fruits, whole-grain bread, whole-grain crackers, and cereals are sources of natural fibre which contain good nutrients for your body. Increasing fibre by 10 grams each meal daily can reduce the risk of gestational diabetes by 26%.

Activity

Doing regular exercise can contribute to keeping your glucose levels within a healthy range. Walking and swimming are good examples of exercises. However, you cannot work out too much, consider your doctor’s advice about how much and how regularly you are allowed to work-out. It depends in part upon your overall health.

Take medication

If your blood sugar remains at a high level, the doctor may give you a prescription to keep it within a healthy range and protect your baby.

#2 Hypertension (High blood pressure)

Hypertension doubles the risk of strokes, heart attacks, heart failure and kidney disease. It can be the result of obesity, drinking too much alcohol, smoking or family history.

Treating hypertension involves lifestyle changes and possibly drug therapy.

Lifestyle changes

Drugs therapy

There are several types of drugs used to treat high blood pressure in case you get serious hypertension such as:

• Beta-blockers
• Calcium channel blockers
• Alpha-blockers
• Alpha-agonists
• Renin inhibitors
• Other medication combinations

Gaining too much weight during pregnancy is dangerous to the mother and her baby. Moreover, it also does not help to keep you in shape after delivery. Consult your doctor to ensure that you a personalised management plan to control your weight.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.