Health experts say you don't have to get fat during pregnancy
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Pregnant women should be encouraged to eat a healthy diet instead of "eating for two" and do moderate exercise, according to a new health advice by NHS. The British experts say women do not even need to drink full fat milk or change the amount of food intake for the first six months of pregnancy.
According to health guidelines by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NHS), pregnant women only need an extra 200 calories a day in the last trimester, a BBC News report says.
NHS also encourage women to have a "realistic expectation" of how long it will take to lose weight after giving birth.
The guidelines, aimed at GPs, midwives and other health professionals, state that obese women - with body mass index over 30 - trying to conceive should be informed about the increased health risk to themselves and their babies. Advice on losing weight before pregnancy should be offered for this group.
Pregnant women, especially those who are overweight or obese, should be advised to eat a healthy diet and do exercise. However, losing weight during pregnancy should not be advocated.
Women must be aware that light exercises will not harm their baby and women who did exercise, like running or aerobics, before getting pregnant could continue doing moderate exercises without any contraindications.