Big weight changes 'put babies at risk'
Mothers who gain or lose lots of weight between pregnancies could be putting their baby at risk, experts have warned.
Posted: 27 July 2007
Jennifer Walsh, a specialist registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology at Coombe Women's Hospital in Dublin, and Deirdre Murphy, professor of obstetrics at Trinity College, University of Dublin, and Coombe Women's Hospital said women should try to maintain a healthy weight before, during and after pregnancy to give their child the best start in life.
Writing in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), they claim that the trend for new mothers to lose weight in a short amount of time could be detrimental to their infant's health. Also, women who pile on the pounds after giving birth may also be putting their next child at risk, they said.
According to the doctors, the effects can include premature birth, greater risk of stillbirth and high blood pressure.
"Women of reproductive age are bombarded with messages about diet, weight, and body image," they said.
"There is growing concern on the one hand about an epidemic of obesity, and on the other about a culture that promotes 'size zero' as desirable, irrespective of a woman's natural build.
"With at least half of all pregnancies unplanned, women need to be aware of the implications of their weight for pregnancy, birth, and the health of their babies."
So what do you think?
