The saying, ‘pregnant women are eating for two’, is correct from an entirely scientific point of view. The nutrients, vitamins and minerals consumed by the mother are absorbed by the unborn baby too. Beyond this however that saying is absolute fallacy and in actuality eating for two in terms of bulk during pregnancy can bring about some very unpleasant side effects.
Weight gain is a standard part of any pregnancy and, though it’s expected, there are a lot of women who exceed the average gain and put on far too much weight during their pregnancies. Now, weight gain, regardless of when its gained, holds the standard risks but there are also some pregnancy-specific concerns which should be noted.
Diabetes comes in four forms. Type one, type two, double and gestational. Ladies who gain excessive amounts of weight during their pregnancies are much more at risk of contracting type two diabetes as their condition becomes more and more like that of a pre-diabetic. Gestational diabetes resolves itself once the baby has been born but it holds a 50% risk of the lady in question developing type two diabetes and an increased risk of the baby contracting the same condition later in life.
Excessive weight gain during pregnancy can lead to the potentially fatal pre-eclampsia. Nobody is 100% sure how and why this condition comes about in the first place but it can cause seizures during a pregnancy which endangers both the life of the mother-to-be and the baby!
Last but not least is the fact that weight gain during pregnancy can be hard to get rid of afterwards. This can leave you at risk of contracting the various conditions which being over-weight brings with it and should be avoided at all costs.
So, eat for two in terms of nutrients but not in terms of calories. Aim for eating for one and a half if you’re struggling but remember your health and the health of your baby could well depend on your ability to say not to that slice of cake!
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