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Pregnancy is an exciting time, with thoughts of a sweet baby to cuddle and adorable outfits to buy. But along with all the joy can come significant weight gain, which can lead to complicated feelings.
Since the 1960s, Weight Watchers (recently rebranded as WW) has been one of the top weight-loss programs, offering tools, motivation and education to help participants make the right decisions about food and exercise. So if you’re trying to reach a healthy weight before you conceive or want to drop a few pounds after delivery, Weight Watchers might be of great help.
However, if you are currently pregnant, know this: Weight Watchers is not for you.
“Dieting is not recommended during pregnancy as it can compromise the integrity of mom and baby’s nutritional status, which can ultimately lead to severe health conditions or long-term consequences,” says Monique Richard, RDN, LDN, an integrative dietitian nutritionist and owner of Nutrition-in-Sight.
Consume Extra Calories During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is not the time to start restricting your caloric intake. Babies need nutrients from the food you eat to grow and develop.
“The fetus relies on mom’s nutrition to meet its growing needs — and diets are often restrictive and prohibitive, so they’re not beneficial to a healthy, happy baby and resilient mom,” notes Richard.
Pregnant people specifically need iron, calcium, vitamin C, folate (B9) and omega-3 fatty acids, as these nutrients are important in forming a healthy brain and spinal cord as well as making DNA and genetic material, explains Richard.
Talk to Your Doctor About How Much Weight to Gain
The most recent weight-gain guidelines for pregnancy were introduced in 2009 by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), reports the American Pregnancy Association. Recommended weight gain during pregnancy is based on your weight before pregnancy. Using this number, your doctor can calculate your pre-pregnancy BMI.
That said, these are only guidelines. Pregnant people and their care providers should use these numbers in the context of a larger discussion about healthy eating and exercise.
Pregnancy is not the time to lose weight, but there’s one rather unavoidable (and uncomfortable) exception: morning sickness.
This very common condition, which is marked by nausea and vomiting, affects up to 80 percent of expectant people. It may result in a little weight loss and, despite its name, can strike morning, noon or night.
Very severe morning sickness, known as hyperemesis gravidarum, can affect about 3 percent of pregnancies, according to ACOG.
“A case like this may require medical attention due to electrolyte imbalance, changes in blood pressure or hydration status,” says Richard.
Gaining Too Much Weight Can Pose Problems, Too
Gaining weight too quickly during pregnancy may lead to problems for both you and your baby, including premature birth, labor complications and fetal macrosomia, which is when a baby is born at more than 8 pounds 13 ounces, according to the March of Dimes. A baby this large may require a C-section and could cause excess bleeding after birth.
The healthiest way to gain weight during pregnancy is the slow-and-steady approach. So the takeaway here is to focus on eating healthfully and staying active.
The Bottom Line
You should never go on a diet during pregnancy, including Weight Watchers.
If you feel you are gaining too much weight with your pregnancy, consult your doctor so you can come up with an eating and activity plan that works best for you.
