- With Mayo Clinic certified nurse-midwife
Mary Murry, R.N., C.N.M.
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Mary Murry, R.N., C.N.M.
Mary Murry, R.N., C.N.M.
Mary Murry is a nurse-midwife practitioner who is certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
A Cincinnati native, she is a nurse-midwife and instructor of obstetrics and gynecology in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
Mary has been a nurse-midwife practitioner for more than 20 years. She co-edited the Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy.
Her research interests include adult female survivors of sexual abuse, women's perception of pain in labor and obesity in pregnancy.
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Pregnancy and you blog
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June 16, 2009
Blog: Pregnancy weight gain — know the factors
By Mary Murry, R.N., C.N.M.
A prenatal visit can be a joyful experience. You get to hear the baby's heart beat. You're reassured about your baby's well-being and your own health. Still, you may dread getting on the scale. You may wonder why you never weigh the same on the scale at the office as the scale at home — or if the scale will tell on you about your dietary indiscretions.
Why do we care so much about pregnancy weight gain? The risk of pregnancy complications is higher in the upper and lower extremes of weight gain. Your health care provider will give you an idea of the amount of weight gain that's ideal for you and your baby. Generally, the amount of weight you're encouraged to gain depends on your pre-pregnancy weight:
- Underweight (BMI less than 18.5): 28 to 40 pounds
- Normal weight (BMI 18.5 to 24.9): 25 to 35 pounds
- Overweight (BMI 25 to 29.9): 15 to 25 pounds
- Obese (BMI 30 or greater): 11 to 20 pounds
So what should you do if you realize you're gaining too much weight? First, forgive yourself. Second, look at the past few weeks to see if you can pinpoint any major contributing factors to your pregnancy weight gain — then brainstorm ways to deal with those issues.
Likewise, what should you do if you're not gaining enough weight? My advice is the same. Look back on your eating habits and consider what you can learn. Remember that sometimes changing to a healthier diet can cause weight loss.
If you find you're having trouble managing your pregnancy weight, ask your health care provider for a referral to a nutritionist or dietitian. Also remember that weight gain is just one part of your pregnancy. Don't let the scale ruin the joy and excitement of pregnancy.
What are your strategies for gaining a healthy amount of weight during pregnancy? What are your struggles? Share your stories so that we can learn from each other.
21 comments posted
- Committee to Reexamine IOM Pregnancy Weight Guidelines, Food and Nutrition Board, and Board on Children, Youth and Families. Weight gain during pregnancy: Reexamining the guidelines. Institute of Medicine and National Research Council. http://www.nap.edu. Accessed June 1, 2009.
21 comments posted