The Parenting Buzz : Weighing In on Weight

Remember the days when it was considered OK to stuff your face when pregnant? Go ahead…after all, you’re “eating for two,” right?

Indiscriminate eating during pregnancy quickly fell out of vogue, as study after study found a correlation between obesity and pregnancy-related complications. And it’s not just the weight gained during a pregnancy that causes concern; weight gain before getting pregnant can also cause complications, including a higher risk of pre-eclampsia, hypertension, gestational diabetes, large-for-gestational age births and stillbirths.

But wait, stop the presses:

Last week, a study out of Ireland turned the other studies’ findings upside down. Published in the British Medical Journal, the study finds that women who diet between pregnancies may have an increased risk of premature birth, stillbirth and high blood pressure. The study concludes that dieting can undermine the body’s ability to maintain an adequate supply of nutrients to support fetal growth and well-being. This study echoes the findings of a study published last year in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology which found that a woman who’s Body Mass Index fell by five or more units between pregnancies has a higher risk of premature birth.

So, what does it all mean? Here are the words of wisdom drawn from the Irish study: “…women should try to maintain a healthy and consistent weight before, during and after pregnancy.”

Oh…is that all?!? Sheesh!

[Editor’s note: thanks to Sandy Maple at ParentDish for the heads-up]

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