Overweight and Pregnant

Being overweight and pregnant is not the end of the world. You can not change things that have occurred in your past, nor should you want to. What you can do is focus on the now and take control of the situation. Work with your healthcare provider to ensure a happy, healthy pregnancy and you can lose your excess weight after you have delivered your baby.

There are many negative effects of being overweight and pregnant. I would mention them but there is no point on focusing on something that is already a reality.

What I will do is mention a few things that will help you to have the best pregnancy possible and allow you to focus on a positive outcome for both of you.

First off, if you are not yet overweight and pregnant, it would be a good idea to lose a few pounds before you conceive. By getting your mind and body into the best shape possible, you will increase the likelihood that your pregnancy will run smoothly.

Also understand that being pregnant is NOT a free meal ticket for two! So many women I know get pregnant and then convince themselves they can eat whatever they like because it’s ‘for the baby.’

The best thing for your baby is for you to control your weight gain, eat healthy and exercise. Everything in moderation is the key. Sure, this may be a time when you can indulge a little, but let that be the exception to the rule. There is nothing worse than gaining a ton of weight and feeling terrible about yourself after your little bundle is born. You are in control and don’t have to let this happen!

Women who are overweight and pregnant do gain weight, but they don’t need to gain as much as a woman that is underweight. Weight gain should be worked out with your doctor. Most overweight women are fine with gaining just 15 to 20 pounds throughout their pregnancy. Keeping the weight gain to a minimum also makes it much easier to take the weight off after the delivery.

Please don’t think that just because you are overweight, that you don’t need to gain any weight for your growing baby. This mindset is very dangerous to both you and your unborn child. Your baby is making huge demands on your body and needs constant energy to develop normally. By depriving your baby of the daily nutrients it requires, you could be causing irreversible damage. Your best bet is to eat healthy, regular mini-meals, exercise and keep a positive attitude. All those factors are crucial to the health and well-being of both of you.

If you are overweight and pregnant, keep these thoughts in mind. By taking care of yourself, you will be giving your unborn child the best of everything. Stay positive, work with your health practitioner and be proud that you are doing everything you can for your baby.

Related article: Losing weight while pregnant

Tags: losing pregnancy weight, Overweight and Pregnant, pregnancy weight gain, pregnant weight