Setting up a preconception appointment with your ob-gyn is the most essential step you can take toward preventive care for you and your baby. During this appointment, you and your ob-gyn may discuss:
- Your diet and healthy lifestyles
- Risks, protection from, and treatment of sexually transmitted infections
- Your medical and family history
- Any medications you take or chronic conditions you may have
- Vaccination history
- Past pregnancies
In our new blog series on preconception, we will go in-depth on all the topics mentioned above, so you have the tools to ensure your pregnancy is as healthy as it can be! The subject of this blog will focus on the role healthy weight plays in healthy pregnancies.
Healthy Pregnancy Weight
Even though you will gain weight during pregnancy, starting pregnancy at a healthy weight is one of the most important things you can do to ensure your health and your baby’s health are at their best. Having too high a BMI at the start of pregnancy can put you at risk for:
- High blood pressure
- Preeclampsia
- Preterm birth
- Gestational diabetes
Obesity during pregnancy also increases the risk of:
- Macrosomia
- Birth injury
- Cesarean birth
- Birth defects, especially neural tube defects (NTDs)
Losing weight can be a challenge, to say the least. First, know that losing any amount of weight should be considered a fantastic feat because any weight loss may improve overall health. If you have some weight to lose, start by making small changes to your diet and adding more physical exercise. Easy ways to cut calories include eliminating sugary drinks like sodas, sports drinks, and those sweet coffee drinks which are loaded with hidden sugars. Pay attention to how much food you eat and check in with yourself on whether what you’ve eaten has eliminated your hunger before you eat additional food. If you need extra help, we offer the Ideal Protein program to help you learn healthy eating habits with the help of our own Ideal Protein coach.
Please read more at: https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/good-health-before-pregnancy-prepregnancy-care
Jackson Healthcare for Women is Mississippi’s leading provider of healthcare services for women. With 16 physicians on staff, Jackson Healthcare for Women is one of the largest and most respected women’s healthcare clinics in the area.