What is the ideal weight to get pregnant?
A BMI above or below the average (not between 19 and 24) can have significant consequences on your fertility , and on the course of your pregnancy if you manage to get pregnant.
A BMI outside the norm should obviously not be considered the only reason for a fertility problem. However, it is usually the first indicator that we try to eliminate. So what is the ideal weight to get pregnant?
The consequences of too high a BMI
Getting pregnant requires several determining factors. One of them is the production of different hormones that enable ovulation. Excess body fat disrupts the production of these hormones, and makes cycles extremely irregular. Women with signs of overweight or obesity are 30 to 40% to present a dysfunction of their cycles.
Even if conception remains possible, being very overweight also increases the risk of early miscarriage or complications during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes and premature labor are on the front line. However, the hormonal disruption accentuated by obesity can also give rise to neonatal complications. or a newborn whose weight would be higher than the average. Obese women are also more likely to give birth by Caesarean section.
The consequences of too low a BMI
In women who are excessively thin, there is, as in overweight women, a disruption of ovarian activity. The irregular cycles are this time due to a lack of fat mass which prevents the normal production of fertility hormones . In women who are excessively thin (anorexic), the almost total absence of fat mass stops the ovulatory cycles.
A very thin woman does not necessarily increase the risk of complications during pregnancy or childbirth. However, it will have to ensure that it receives the essential nutrients to a peaceful pregnancy. Excessive thinness due to an eating disorder or body shape phobia should be closely monitored to keep the fetus healthy.
How to put all the chances on your side?
To reach the ideal weight to get pregnant , you have to put in place a suitable diet, in one way or the other.
If you are overweight and not yet pregnant, you can adopt a classic low-calorie diet , favoring white meat , fruits and vegetables, and banning all refined sugars. You’ll lose several pounds in just a few weeks, enough to get you back to a BMI below 24.
If you are already pregnant and want to avoid complications, you should definitely consult your doctor or a nutritionist to accompany you. During the gestation period, the fetus has specific needs and a low-calorie diet is not necessarily the right solution.
In case of excessive thinness, a high- calorie but balanced diet is necessary to return to an average weight. Feeding exclusively on junk food to gain weight is not a good solution. This is because you will be lacking in essential nutrients, especially if you are already pregnant.
A young anorexic woman has no physical possibility of becoming pregnant until she has gained some weight. In general, a psychological follow -up is advised before embarking on a baby project. It is not enough to reach the ideal weight to get pregnant. You also have to heal to be able to enjoy your baby and a new family life.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.