Your Weight Matters

During pregnancy, many factors contribute to the baby’s well-being. Dr Haw Wan Lye, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Columbia Asia Hospital – Cheras, shares his concerns about the increasing body mass indices (BMIs) in the population, especially that of pregnant women.

“If a woman with a high BMI experiences high weight gain during pregnancy, her risk of developing gestational diabetes will be increased,” says Dr Haw.

“Therefore, if your BMI is already high, you must be careful of your calorie intake. The guidelines for weight gain during pregnancy state that a 12kg to 15kg weight gain is adequate for a mother who is underweight or of normal weight, while an 8kg to 10kg weight gain would be appropriate for a pregnant woman whose BMI is above 23.”

Dr Haw advises that there is a need for expecting mothers to monitor their diets and pay attention to the glycaemic index values of different foods to ensure that their babies receive adequate nutrition and reduce their risk of developing gestational diabetes.