New Pregnancy Weight Guidelines Issued
New guidelines are now setting how much weight a women should gain during a pregnancy.Â
The recommendations from the Institute of Medicine are the first on pregnancy weight since 1990.
The new guidelines include gaining between 25 to 35 pounds for a normal woman with a body mass index of 18.5 to 24.9, or 15 to 25 pounds for an overweight woman with a BMI of 25 to 29.9.
Obese women with a BMI over 29.9 should only gain 10 to 20 pounds, while underweight women with a BMI less than 18.5 should gain 28 to 40 pounds.
Meeting the guidelines could be difficult for many women, considering that 55 percent of women of childbearing age are overweight. Preconception care is not common among women because nearly half of all pregnancies are unplanned.
Women who are overweight during pregnancy could have a higher chance of diabetes or high blood pressure, and have a greater risk of giving birth to a premature child.
The recommendations issued on Thursday aren’t far from what obstetricians already suggest, although many women do not stick to the standards.
According to the guidelines co-author Dr. Anna Maria Siega-Riz of the University of North Carolina, pregnancy is not the time to lose weight.
"It’s not, ‘Hey you gained enough, now you need to stop,’" Siega-Riz said. "Let’s take stock of where you’re at and start gaining correctly."
Normal and underweight mothers should gain a pound a week during the second and third trimesters, while overweight women should only gain a half pound.
According to Siega-Riz, most women have never been told how much weight they should be gaining.
The guidelines also call for increased nutrition and exercise counseling during pregnancy, suggesting that providers should discuss whether a woman plans to breastfeed, which is best for the baby and helps the mother shed pounds.
"It’s really a teachable moment," said Dr. Patrick Catalano, obstetrics chairman at Ohio’s Case Western Reserve University and guidelines co-author. "When women are pregnant, they may be more accepting" of weight discussions "because it’s also in the best interest of their babies."
Obstetricians, who have struggled with how to advise heavier women, welcomed the guidelines.
"Pregnant women should not be eating for two," said Dr. Ellen J. Landsberger, of New York’s Montefiore Medical Center. "You want a healthy baby? On both ends, you have to eat the right amount."
Some question whether it is realistic for obese women to only gain 11 pounds during a pregnancy.
"We think it’s possible. We also think it will be a challenge," said Dr. Kathleen Rasmussen, who chaired the Institute of Medicine committee.
The recommendations also say women expecting twins can gain 37 to 54 pounds for a normal woman, 31 to 50 pounds for an overweight woman, and 25 to 42 for the obese.
There is not enough information to set guidelines for pregnancies of triplets or more.
The institute emphasized that the guidelines are only for U.S. women, and do not work for areas of the world with different nutritional needs.
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