Pregnancy is a time when most women are most diligent about what they are taking in nutritionally –
Though there are many books and nutritional guides available for pregnant women, few address the specific needs of those women who start their pregnancies off overweight. With more than half of the population listed as being overweight, this is a point of concern.
Women who are concerned about their own health and the health of their unborn baby need to know whether it is safe for them to diet while pregnant, and what the right way is to go about it.
How to Lose Weight While Pregnant Healthy
It is important to remember that your pregnancy diet goes directly to your baby, so whether you are underweight, the perfect weight, or morbidly obese, it is still important to make sure that your baby is getting the proper nutrition.
The average pregnancy is supposed to end with a twenty five to thirty five pound weight gain, and even obese women are advised to put on at least twenty pounds during a pregnancy.
This is because by the end of the pregnancy the baby will account for approximately eight pounds of weight, and the placenta and extra fluids involved in supporting the baby make up the additional pounds.
If prior to getting pregnant you were eating a lot of unhealthy calories, with lots of fat and sugar, simply replacing those items with healthy fruits, vegetables, dairy products and whole grains will not only provide your baby with everything you need, but also end with your post-
How to Lose Weight While Pregnant Safely
The most important thing to remember if you start your pregnancy overweight is that losing weight while pregnant requires a different mindset.
You can’t be looking at the scale every day and expect pounds to come off the way that they would have before your pregnancy, because your body is carrying and supporting another person.
Even if you switch to a healthy pregnancy diet for the next several months, you are not going to see the weight come off on the scale until after the pregnancy is over, and attempting to do so could put your baby at risk.
Your body may in fact be losing weight based on no longer eating unhealthy, fat-
It is vitally important that you remain focused on eating in a way that is healthy for you and for your baby.
How to Lose Weight While Pregnant Plan
The best way for you to make sure that you are following the proper pregnancy diet plan is to consult a nutritionist; they are aware of the risks of taking in too few calories to support a fit and healthy pregnancy, while at the same time being acutely aware of the problems of obesity in pregnancy.
A nutritionist can make sure that you are taking in the perfect balance of healthy foods and nutrition to help you avoid preeclampsia, high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and other health problems that tend to afflict overweight expectant moms.
It is completely possible for a woman who was overweight before getting pregnant to take in all the right calories to support a healthy pregnancy while still making a positive change in their eating habits that will end in an overall weight loss after the pregnancy. These good habits will also help you long after your baby is born.