Thursday 6 October 2016

How Obesity can affect a Pregnant woman.

Being obese during pregnancy increases the risk of various pregnancy complications, including: Gestational diabetes. Women who are obese are more likely to have diabetes that develops during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) than are women who have a normal weight. Being very overweight, or obese, which is usually defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or over, is increasingly common. Around 15-20% of pregnant women are now in this category.

Your BMI is a measurement of how overweight you are and is calculated using your weight and height. Before you get pregnant, you can use a BMI healthy weight calculator to work out if you are overweight. However, once you're pregnant, this may not be accurate.

If you are overweight, the best way to protect your health and your baby's wellbeing is to lose weight before you become pregnant.  By reaching a healthy weight, you increase your chances of conceiving naturally and reduce your risk of the problems associated with being overweight in pregnancy. If you get pregnant before losing weight, try not to worry – most women who are overweight have a straightforward pregnancy and birth, and have healthy babies. However, being overweight does increase the risk of complications for both you and your baby.

Good antenatal care can help to minimise these risks. If you are very overweight and pregnant, don't try to lose weight during your pregnancy, as this may not be safe. There is no evidence that losing weight while you're pregnant will reduce the risks. The best way to protect your health and your baby's health is to go to all your antenatal appointments so that the midwife, doctor and any other health professionals can keep an eye on you both.They can manage the risks that you might face due to your weight, and act to prevent – or deal with – any problems.

It's also important to eat a healthy, balanced diet and get some physical activity every day. You should be offered a referral to a dietitian or other health professional for personalised advice on healthy eating and how to be physically active during your pregnancy. Manipal hospitals is the one stop destination to manage
your health as well as your weight during your pregnancy days. Click here for more details.

The experts in Manipal Hospitals will offer you the best possible guidance on managing your health during pregnancy days. Eating healthily (including knowing what foods to avoid) and doing activities such as walking and swimming is good for all pregnant women. If you weren't active before
pregnancy, it's a good idea to consult your midwife or doctor before starting a new exercise regime when you're pregnant.

If you start an aerobic exercise programme (such as swimming, walking, running or aerobics classes), tell the instructor that you're pregnant and begin with no more
than 15 minutes of continuous exercise, three times a week. Increase this gradually to daily 30-minute sessions.

For more insights into what to do & what to avoid during pregnancy days, Click Here.
Nobody can take care you during your pregnancy days better than the experts at Manipal Hospitals.