Does your BMI have something to do with conception?

Recently, a beloved cousin got pregnant. We were all so excited for her news, but it also scared us that something might happen to her. You see, she has always been an overweight person and this overweight has impacted her life in different ways. Her weight -and having a baby- was going to change her even more. The good news about this, besides the one of the baby, is that my cousin got in control of her BMI and lost weight to stay healthy for her and her baby.

What is BMI?

According to Medical News Today. Body Mass Index (BMI) “is a measure of body fat based on your weight in relation to your height, and applies to most adult men and women aged 20 and over. For children aged 2 and over, BMI percentile is the best assessment of body fat.” BMI i applied to women who are pregnant; this tool helps you to understand if you’re suffering from underweight or overweight. All this information means that during pregnancy your BMI matters too.

Does abnormal BMIs calculation affect your pregnancy?

When someone is overweight, his or her BMI is between 25 or 29.9. Being obese means your BMI is over 30 and obese people who possess a BMI of 40 or more are in a higher risk of suffering diseases such as diabetes, but for pregnant women, things get much and much harder because the type of conditions they might have can affect the baby too. According to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist, obesity might increase the possibility of suffering the following problems during pregnancy:

1.Pregnancy loss—Obese women have an increased risk of pregnancy loss (miscarriage) compared with women of average weight.

2.Birth defects—Babies born to obese women have an increased risk of having birth defects, such as heart defects and neural tube defects.

3.Problems with diagnostic tests—Having too much body fat can make it difficult to see certain problems with the baby’s anatomy on an ultrasound exam. Checking the baby’s heart rate during labor also may be more difficult if you are obese.

4.Macrosomia—In this condition, the baby is larger than normal. This can increase the risk of the baby being injured during birth. For example, the baby’s shoulder can become stuck during delivery. Macrosomia also increases the risk of cesarean delivery. Infants born with too much body fat have a greater chance of being obese later in life.

5.Preterm birth—Problems associated with a woman’s obesity, such as preeclampsia, may lead to a medically indicated preterm birth. This means that the baby is delivered early for a medical reason. Preterm babies are not as fully developed as babies who are born after 39 weeks of pregnancy. As a result, they have an increased risk of short-term and long-term health problems.

6.Stillbirth—The higher the woman’s BMI, the greater the risk of stillbirth.

So yes, high BMI calculations can affect your pregnancy. Overall, abnormal BMI calculation can change the health of a person dramatically. Hugh M. Ehrenberg is an author who has published several of his articles in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology even cleared out that “Doctors have long known that very obese women risk pregnancy complications, but research indicates that even women who are not hugely overweight have elevated risks.”

What can I do if I have a high BMI and I want to get pregnant?

Probably reconsider the time to get pregnant. It’s essential that you keep a right track of your BMI calculations with your doctor. Some of the things you can do to lower your BMI are eating healthy and start an exercise routine. According to Fit Pregnancy: “To prevent such problems, a woman should, if possible, be at or close to her ideal weight when she becomes pregnant. Sometimes losing just 5 to 10 percent before getting pregnant is enough to decrease her risk factors.”

What can I do if I have a high BMI and I am pregnant?

This advice is trickier than the last one I gave you. Usually, your doctor won’t recommend you to do a strict diet and exercise routine since you have to take care of your baby. Once again, according to Fit Pregnancy: “If you're overweight and pregnant, you can safely limit your weight gain by working with a registered dietitian and a certified trainer, each of whom has expertise in pregnancy nutrition and prenatal exercise.” Some experts recommend you can lose from 10 to 20 pounds (around 5 to 7% of BMI) to stay healthy during your pregnancy. By no means, I am here to impose you the diet you should follow; you should always discuss this crucial subjects with your doctor.