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By: Jennifer Polimino

"How much weight should I gain while I'm pregnant?" is the most common question I hear. And I'm glad women are asking, because gaining too much weight is dangerous for both mom and baby.


Thanks to myths like, "when you're pregnant, you should eat enough for two," the majority of moms-to-be are gaining too much weight. Right now, approximately six million women are pregnant, and over three million of them are either overweight or obese.


Even more surprising is that 69 percent of normal weight women put on excessive weight during pregnancy. Why is this disturbing?


Because being overweight during pregnancy increases your risk for:


# Premature birth
# Birth defects
# Gestational diabetes
# Cesarean section (with complication)
# Toxemia

I don't have to tell you that any one of these things can lead to heartbreak. But that's not all. The risk is to the baby as well.


Infants of overweight mothers are twice as likely to have congenital heart defects and other birth defects, according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics.


In addition, children of overweight mothers are 15 times more likely to suffer from weight problems themselves, who are then faced with a lifelong struggle and medical risks.


Are you concerned about having a good delivery experience? (What expectant mom isn't?) A study published in Obstetrics and Gynecology showed that overweight women have longer labor and more C-sections, posing greater risks to complications, including blood clots, infection, and excessive bleeding.


So the question, "How much weight should I gain during pregnancy?" is a very important one, indeed.

Following are two charts. The first one shows you how to determine if you're underweight, normal, overweight, or obese, according to your height.


The second chart shows you how much weight you should gain, depending on your current body type.

Height 5'
Underweight 148

Height 5'2
Underweight

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