Laila Ali, Muhammad Ali’s daughter and undefeated women’s boxing champion (24-0), fought as a super-middleweight (160-168 pounds) and light-heavyweight (168-175). Currently retired, “She Bee Stingin” (her nickname) is a married mom of two and still in great fighting shape (she shed her second pregnancy weight-gain of 40 pounds and did a NYC Triathalon).
Making sure you’re a good “fighting weight” is essential for all moms-to-be (and moms). When you’re a healthy weight, it’s likely your kids will be born a healthy weight and maintain it. That lessens the risk of prematurity and its complications as well as chronic illnesses like diabetes that can follow overweight newborns into adulthood.
According to a new UK study, doctors can tell from fats in umbilical-cord blood (they get there from Mom) if a fetus is going to be an overweight newborn, an overweight child at age 9 and even heavier teenager by 17! So what can an overweight woman do if she wants her kids to have a fighting chance for a healthy life?
- Before becoming pregnant, aim for a healthy weight and take a multivitamin with folic acid and DHA-omega-3 daily—that cuts risk of miscarriage 55 percent.
- If you’re overweight and become pregnant, remember, you’re eating for 1.1, not two; you need just 10 percent more calories during the first six months. And near delivery you need 15 to 20 percent more than your baseline!
- Start a healthy nutritional plan with unprocessed foods. That’ll reduce your chances for preeclampsia (elevated blood pressure) and labor problems.
Medically reviewed in December 2018.
