"I'm thinking about having a baby, but I'm concerned that I'm too heavy. Should I be worried?"

The Mommy Docs' answer to this question is an unfortunate, yet definite, yes. Losing weight is hard, but getting to a healthy weight is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your baby.
You've heard the staggering statistics: Only about one-third of American women are of a normal weight, while one-third are overweight (meaning they have with a body-mass index, or BMI, of 25 to 30) and one-third are obese (with a BMI greater than 30). With so many women carrying extra pounds, our perception of normal weight has been so dramatically skewed that many health providers don't even notice when a woman is overweight. This carries many increased risks.

The consequences of obesity in non-pregnant women are well-known—diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, certain cancers, joint problems and liver and gallbladder disease.

And now the health risks of obesity during pregnancy are clear as well.

How being overweight or obese puts your pregnancy—and your life—at risk.
Published 08/11/2010
As a reminder, always consult your doctor for medical advice and treatment before starting any program.

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