Obese women may be able to lose weight safely during pregnancy

Typically, obstetricians tell women that a normal amount of weight for them to gain during pregnancy is 25 to 35 pounds. For obese women, 15 pounds is considered normal. Attempting to lose weight during pregnancy for women of any size has always been a big no-no, but a recent small study found that maintaining or even losing weight during pregnancy had no harmful effects on women with obesity or their unborn children. In fact, those same women even lowered their risk of having a larger than average baby. The issue is an important one, because nearly half of pregnant women have weight issues before conceiving. Carrying extra weight during pregnancy can increase a women's risk of developing gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, or having to deliver by c-section.

This doesn't mean that pregnant women have the go ahead to starve themselves to avoid weight gain. Pregnant bodies and growing fetuses need plenty of good nutrition. I think the lesson here is that eating a balanced, healthy diet and following a moderate exercise program during pregnancy is key...no matter what your bathroom scale tells you. And as always, don't make any changes before talking it over with your doctor.