Is eating more during pregnancy better for the baby? What are the risks of excessive weight gain during pregnancy?

Many expectant mothers hear the most during pregnancy: "Eat more, eat for two." Indeed, pregnant women need to consume more energy during pregnancy to meet the increased metabolic needs of the mother and fetus and ensure the growth and development of the fetus. However, if the energy intake is too much and the pregnant woman gains weight too quickly, it will also cause many harms to the pregnant woman and the fetus.

With the development of society, people's living standards have improved, and some pregnant women have deep traditional concepts, which has greatly increased the probability of obesity in pregnant women. Surveys and studies have found that about 73% of pregnant women in my country have a weight gain during pregnancy that exceeds the World Health Organization standard. Obesity in pregnant women can lead to increased complications of pregnancy and delivery, and also increase the incidence of long-term chronic diseases in mothers and babies. The most common complications of obesity in pregnant women are diabetes and hypertension. High blood sugar during pregnancy will induce oxidative stress and increase the generation of free radicals, which can have teratogenic effects. Obesity during pregnancy can also cause metabolic disorders, such as insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia. These diseases may cause vascular dysfunction and abnormal placental metabolism, which is not conducive to the development of fetal organs [1].

In addition, maternal obesity will have an impact on pregnancy, delivery, fetal weight and newborns. Obesity will also increase the incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications of cesarean sections, such as prolonged operation time, increased intraoperative bleeding, postpartum wound infection, fat liquefaction, and increased risk of deep vein thrombosis. The body mass index of pregnant women is also directly related to the probability of giving birth to a macrosomia. The more obese the pregnant woman is, the heavier the fetus is. Such pregnant women often choose cesarean sections, and macrosomia are prone to difficult head delivery. If not handled properly, it may cause neonatal injury, asphyxia, and massive bleeding from the maternal uterine incision [2].

In addition, many pregnant women feel that they are always hungry after pregnancy, which causes them to eat more. Generally speaking, it is normal to be hungry during pregnancy, but expectant mothers should pay attention to that once they find themselves frequently hungry, their appetite increases abnormally, and it is difficult to feel full, accompanied by symptoms in other parts of the body such as acid reflux, dizziness, and polyuria, they should seek medical attention in time to rule out causes such as diabetes and thyroid. Some expectant mothers like to eat sour foods after pregnancy. Sour foods can stimulate gastric acid secretion and improve digestion and absorption functions. It is worth noting that when sour foods are consumed excessively, excessive gastric acid secretion may lead to hunger symptoms in pregnant women, so be careful to eat sour foods in moderation.

In summary, pregnant women need to control their weight during pregnancy and conduct reasonable nutritional intervention during pregnancy to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes and the occurrence of pregnancy complications. While controlling weight, you should also pay attention to providing yourself and the fetus with enough energy to ensure the good development of the fetus. Being too fat or too thin during pregnancy is not good. If the pregnant woman is too light and lacks nutrition, it may cause fetal malnutrition, intrauterine growth retardation and other consequences. You should eat more easily digestible and nutritious foods (such as fish, poultry, eggs, milk and other foods containing high-quality protein, fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins and dietary fiber, etc.), and eat scientifically and rationally.

References:

1. Liu Qing: Effect of weight management during pregnancy on pregnancy outcomes. Chinese Journal of Medicine Guide 2016(12).

2. Li Li: Relationship between maternal obesity and complications during and after cesarean section. Chinese Journal of Maternal and Child Health 2012(31):4899-4900.