Pregnant & Overweight? 7 Ways To Have A Healthy Pregnancy

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There are greater risks associated with being pregnant when overweight or obese. However, if you commit to following a right diet, you can enjoy a healthy pregnancy and deliver the baby without any complications:

Seek the advice of a doctor.

As soon as you know you're pregnant, consult a doctor for tests to determine and rule out any health risks. Per Parents, being pregnant and overweight happens in 3 out of 10 women, so it's not exactly a rare incident. You and your doctor should be able to talk about any effects this may have in you and your baby's health.

Now is not the time to lose weight.

Attempting to lose weight at this point is moot as you will expectedly be gaining pregnancy pounds. However, you can manage your weight gain by taking on a healthier diet. You have to watch what you eat to make sure that you don't gain more than you should. The standard recommended pregnancy weight gain is 15 to 25 lbs. for overweight moms and 11 to 20 lbs. for obese moms, according to The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. See a nutritionist to better be guided on what foods to eat to receive the best nutrition without the added calories.

Keep track of your weight.

You can do this using a journal or an app that helps you track calories. Tracking will also teach you to be mindful of your diet while pregnant.

Become physically active.

Unless otherwise confined to bed rest by the doctor, you should be doing exercises even when pregnant. There are plenty of routines you can accomplish that will give you more energy and limit back pain problems, according to Fit Pregnancy.

Don't forget to drink up.

Increase your water intake to at least 12 o 13 glasses daily, but make sure that this is evenly spaced out during the whole day, according to What To Expect. It will help fight off swelling, fatigue and headaches, as well as help with the digestive system. You can also hydrate by eating fresh fruits and taking chicken soup.

Stock up on healthy snacks.

The urge to snack while pregnant might lead to weight gain if your cupboard is filled with calorie-dense foods. Instead, stock up on nutritious treats so that you can make smarter choices when it comes to snacking. For instance, you can mix yogurt with berries in place of ice cream, or prepare sweet potato fries instead of the usual French fries.

Plan ahead for your post-pregnancy weight loss.

Look into fitness classes you can sign up for once the baby is born and also start collecting recipes and chart weekly menu. Keep this in a handy binder to refer from time to time. Do this while the baby is still in your womb because, once out, you might have no more time and energy to do the preparations.