Pregnancy Tips for Obese Women

Becoming pregnant when already obese can be a difficult situation. Obese pregnant women are often treated differently than women who become pregnant at a normal weight. The biggest concern is how much more weight an obese woman will gain during her pregnancy. These pregnancy tips for obese women will help to deal with what the doctors will expect and how to handle this on your own.

  1. Weight Gain

    • Doctors suggest that women at a healthy weight gain between 25 and 35 pounds while pregnant. An obese woman should only gain between 15 and 25 pounds during pregnancy. This means that obese women have to be diligent about their nutrition and fitness levels. It does not mean that an obese woman should diet while pregnant or start an exercise regimen. It means that obese women need to be more careful about what they eat and try to get in some physical activity to help stave off the extra baby weight.

    Food

    • The main concern with an obese woman and pregnancy is that she will develop gestational diabetes. Eating small meals regularly can keep your blood sugar at a steady level and may help you avoid gestational diabetes. Obese women should eat for themselves and for their babies. This means lots of fruits, vegetables, healthy carbs, protein, calcium and water. An example menu may include fruit and yogurt for breakfast, a granola bar for snack, a chef salad for lunch, raw veggies for snack, baked chicken with vegetables and brown rice for dinner, and some frozen yogurt and fruit for dessert. If you became obese by overeating, then this new regimen of healthy eating may help you to gain the right amount of weight. Remember, this is not a diet. It is the food that the baby needs to grow properly.

    Fitness

    • Regardless of size when becoming pregnant, doctors do not suggest that any woman start a fitness program. This is especially important for an obese woman. You don't want to put any added stress on your body when your body is already undergoing so many changes. This doesn't mean that you can't do anything. Walking is an excellent way to help keep the weight off---as long as the walking is moderate exertion level.

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