Obstetricians have long recommended their obese patients not gain as much weight as thinner women during their pregnancy. According to a new study from Denmark, the recommended amount for obese diabetic women should possibly gain, be even less than was previously believed.
In a study reported on in the journal Diabetes Care in January 2013, researchers at the Center for Pregnant women with Diabetes in Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, reviewed the records of 58 obese Type 2 diabetic women who had given birth to a single child…
1. The women had all been advised to gain from 0 to 5 kg, or 11 pounds, during their pregnancy. Seventeen of the women gained 5 kg or less. Diabetic mothers tend to give birth to overweight babies, but those who gained the recommended amount had lower birth weight infants and fewer who were considered overweight.
2. Delivery dates were also closer to term in the low weight gain group. Two hundred and eighty days is considered a normal length for pregnancy. Women who gained 5 kg or less had pregnancies of 268 on average. The average length of pregnancies for women who gained more than 5 kg was 262 days.
3. Babies of women who gained the recommended amount had a lower risk of health problems during their first month after birth than did those from mothers who gained more than 5 kg.
Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more. Obese women are at high risk for both Type 2 and Gestational diabetes. If you are obese and contemplating pregnancy, then normalize your weight before conception. If you are pregnant, obese, and Type 2 diabetic, discuss weight gain with your doctor or midwife. It is likely you do not need to gain as much as an underweight or normal weight woman.
To burn calories, the majority of pregnant women are able to walk, swim, or perform many of the activities they did before pregnancy. Put physical activity onto the list of things to discuss with your healthcare provider.
Fruits and vegetables are generally lower in calories and fat than meat, which is unnecessary in your diet. A plant-based diet also has no cholesterol. Use cooking oils, such as olive oil, sparingly. Eat lots of salads and baked or broiled veggies.
Avoiding dairy products is another way to cut down on calories. Calcium, important to build your baby’s bones and maintain your own, can be taken in from broccoli, spinach, other dark leafy vegetables, or supplements.
Speaking of supplements, most doctors prescribe prenatal vitamin pills with iron, so there is no need to feel compelled to eat too much to provide your baby with his or her nutrients.
