Summary: The benefits of staying at a healthy weight while pregnant abound for both you and your child. Now, new research says that doing so could also help your baby breathe easier in the moments after birth.
By Marygrace Taylor | Posted: May 20, 2014
Maintaining a healthy weight during pregnancy helps prevent gestational diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as reduce your child's risk of obesity — and that's not all. A large new study suggests that babies have an easier time breathing in the minutes after birth when their mothers have a normal body mass index (BMI) during pregnancy.
Babies whose mothers are overweight or obese are more likely to experience an oxygen deficit at birth than babies whose mothers are at a healthy weight, finds a new study published in the journal PLoS One. Using information from a Swedish registry of over 1.7 million single-baby births that took place between 1992 and 2010, researchers looked at the mother's BMI and the baby's APGAR scores — a measuring in the minutes after birth telling doctors how healthy the baby is in the first moments of life. The test, which is based on a score of 1 to 10, looks at skin color, heart rate, reflexes, muscle tone and breathing; scores of less than 7 indicate a baby needs medical attention. Still, the number doesn't predict a baby's long-term health. "A low APGAR score doesn't necessarily mean that a baby is unhealthy or abnormal. It may simply mean that a baby needs some special immediate care, such as oxygen to help him breathe," says Tanya Altmann, M.D., a working mother and UCLA-trained pediatrician who practices in Southern California.
The study found that a maternal body mass index of 25 to 29.9 (considered "overweight") was associated with a 55 percent increased risk for APGAR scores of 3 or less at five minutes after birth. The risk jumped to 100 percent increased risk for mothers with a BMI of 30 to 39.9 (considered "obese"), and 200 percent higher risk for mothers with a BMI of 40 or higher.
Experts can't say for sure how being overweight or obese during pregnancy impacts a baby's breathing. A too-high BMI could negatively affect the placenta, which may reduce fetal oxygen supply, says lead study author Dr. Martina Persson of Sweden's Karolinska Institute. Overweight or obese mothers are also more likely to have larger babies, which can increase the risk for difficult deliveries.
What do doctors know for sure? "Striving for a healthy weight before and during pregnancy is of great benefit for both mother and child," Dr. Persson says. If you're planning on becoming pregnant, aim to reach or maintain a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9, says the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. During pregnancy, moms-to-be should gain:
- 25 to 35 pounds if you were at a normal weight pre-pregnancy
- 15 to 25 pounds if you were overweight pre-pregnancy
- 11 to 20 pounds if you were obese pre-pregnancy
Remember, eating for two doesn't mean doubling down on your daily calories — in fact you only need between about 300 and 500 extra calories per day when you're expecting. If you're concerned you're gaining too much weight during pregnancy or want to determine a healthy weight gain plan for your pregnancy, speak with your doctor and try these tips to stay healthy.
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