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Body Image and Weight Gain in Pregnancy

A study at Temple University has resulted in some interesting information about body image and excessive weight gain in pregnancy. As most women know, some of us have an accurate body image, but others view themselves as either thinner or heavier than their actual body weight. According to researchers, this distorted body image can result in a greater risk of gaining too much weight in pregnancy. Over 1500 women who were enrolled in a program called Project Viva were participants in the study. The women were classified as normal weight, overweight or obese. These groups were subdivided into women with … Continue reading →

The Dangers of Excessive Weight Gain

Most pregnant women spend time worrying about weight gain. For many women, body image and the fear of not being able to lose the weight later are the main reason for worry. Several recent studies have shown there are more dangers associated with gaining too much weight during pregnancy. Many of the dangers of excessive weight gain are well known. Gaining too much weight puts the pregnant woman at risk for complications such as gestational diabetes and pre eclampsia. Pre term labor may be the result of these conditions, which can endanger the baby. A Harvard study showed that women … Continue reading →

Pregnancy Awareness Month (Part II)

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With the support of “Healthy Child Healthy Word.” P.A.M. are getting the word out about healthy pregnancy. Today’s blog will focus on what P.A.M. has found to be the Five Things Pregnant Woman Complain About. Number One: Excess Weight Gain Pregnancy plays quite the number on the pregnant woman’s body. During pregnancy a woman’s body goes into storage mode. So that pint of ice cream you could eat pre-pregnancy and burn off with a good cardio, isn’t going to happen during pregnancy. The recommended weight gain for a pregnant women with a healthy BMI is 25-35 pounds. There are many … Continue reading →

A High Fat Diet May Increase Breast Cancer Risk for Two Generations

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Researchers are constantly studying pregnancy and how different lifestyles and choices impact the health of the mother and the child. A major focus is often on the food that a pregnant woman eats, whether it’s the quantity or the quality. I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase,“You are what you eat,” and it’s never been more true. Recent research has led experts to believe that what you eat during your pregnancy, specifically junk food and how much of it you consume, can effect not only your daughter’s chances of getting breast cancer in the future, but her daughter’s chances as well. … Continue reading →

Why the High Maternal Mortality Rate in America?

Women in America more likely to die during childbirth than they are in most other developed nations. Despite our advanced health care and all the money spent on health care in America, why are so many women still dying as a result of childbirth related complications? There are many theories out there, and many point to the obesity epidemic in the US. Obesity significantly increases the risks of childbirth complications. Over a third of Americans over the age of 20 are obese. Obesity is defined by having a BMI of 30 or more. For a person that is 5′ 9″, … Continue reading →

Congenital Abnormalities and Obesity

There is abundant evidence that obesity has risks during pregnancy. These include a higher incidence of developing complications, such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, large baby and complications during labor and birth, including c section. A new study suggests there may be additional and more long lasting risks. According to research conducted in the UK, women who are classified as obese have a higher incidence of congenital abnormalities compared with women of normal weight. The research involved analyzing articles of observational studies from nearly 2,000 sources. The analysis showed women with a BMI over 30 had double the risk of … Continue reading →

The Link Between Recurrent Miscarrage and Obesity

Researchers in the UK have determined a link between obesity and recurrent miscarriage. The study was conducted at St. Mary’s Hospital in London and published in the British Journal of Medicine. Researchers followed a group of women who had suffered at least one miscarriage in the past ten years. The women were followed during their next pregnancy for this study. The women were divided into groups for the study: underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese. To determine obesity, the weight of the participants and their body mass index were used. The body mass index is a measure that uses the … Continue reading →

When Your Wedding Ring No Longer Fits

Swelling is common in pregnancy. The amount of swelling you will experience depends on several factors, including how much weight you gain and the amount of water you retain during the pregnancy. Complications such as pre eclampsia can contribute to swelling as well. If you do experience swelling in the hands, you will likely have to stop wearing your wedding ring. When, or if, this will become necessary is anyone’s guess. There are some women who never have to take off their wedding rings because they don’t experience much swelling. The women who do experience it, may find they can … Continue reading →

What is Pre-eclampsia?

Pre-eclampsia is also known as pregnancy induced hypertension. This is a less serious form of a condition known as eclampsia or toxemia. Pre-eclampsia is a potentially serious complication in pregnancy and will cause the pregnancy to be classified as high risk. The symptoms of Pre-eclampsia include high blood pressure. In addition, protein is found in the urine when tested at prenatal visits. Most women with pre-eclampsia experience swelling in the extremities. Swelling is often found in the hands, feet and face. This is caused by fluid retention. A main danger of pre-eclampsia is the condition can prevent sufficient blood flow … Continue reading →

A New Risk Factor Related to Obesity in Pregnancy

There are a few known risk factors related to obesity in pregnancy. Past studies have shown that obesity results in an increased risk of complications in pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes. There is also an increased chance the mother will need a c section. Researchers in the UK have found another risk factor. In a study conducted by the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit found obese women had a 165% higher risk of developing blood clots in the lungs than women who are not obese. This condition, also known as antenatal pulmonary embolism is a large contributor to maternal … Continue reading →