To some extent, size can have an effect on pregnancy. However, this effect is not decisive; it is the size of the pelvis that is decisive for labor. Thus, a woman who is short but has a large pelvis usually has an easier labor, while on the contrary, a woman who is tall and has a relatively narrow pelvis will have a more difficult labor, but this is not absolute. What Factors Make Labor Difficult for Mothers The weight of the baby, the position of the fetus and the way the fetus is born also play a very important role. Usually, shorter women give birth to smaller babies, so they don’t seem to have a harder time getting through the pregnancy than other women. Where necessary, pelvic measurements can accurately determine the size of a pregnant woman’s pelvis, and from there, whether she will be able to give birth naturally. So, whether you are 156 centimeters or 200 centimeters, doctors and midwives will receive you in the same way. However, if your weight is no longer within the normal range, the doctor and midwife may be a little concerned. Weight that needs to be monitored When it comes to the dangers of excess weight during pregnancy, Dr. Hatem, M.D., emphasizes, “During pregnancy, excess weight can trigger high blood pressure, lower extremity edema, and gestational diabetes. During labor, the baby is delivered slowly because the accumulation of fat narrows the pelvis. Pregnant women who are too fat have difficulty in exerting themselves and cannot even spread their legs sufficiently. It is more difficult to use painless labor and perform a cesarean section, and overweight women are at greater risk for post-operative complications. For the baby, there is also a higher risk of the baby being abnormal if the mother has switched to diabetes. In addition, let’s not forget that stretch marks caused by overweight labor cannot be recovered.” As you can see, watching your weight during pregnancy is far more than just keeping your lines in the doctors’ opinion. So, if you are a bit chubby or gain weight easily, then you need to be vigilant during pregnancy. But the issue itself is a bit more complicated. This is because a certain range of weight gain during pregnancy is important for the healthy development of the fetus. At this time, what needs to be in the forefront is to ensure the health of the mother and child through sufficient weight gain. And the range of weight gain necessary during pregnancy depends on the mother’s pre-pregnancy weight. Plus every woman has her own specific dietary history, and some will have a more complex dietary experience than others. So we can’t generalize just yet. Otherwise the consequence of this lack of flexibility is that many pregnant women are overly controlling their appetites during a period when they should have a strong appetite. Weight Management Program for Pregnant Mothers From the first day of your little one’s life, physiological changes are taking place in your body, and body fat and weight stints are the most obvious. Stage 1: 0 to 3 months Your body shape doesn’t shift much, except that your breasts begin to swell. Frequent urination, dizziness and vomiting may occur at the beginning, but the condition will disappear slowly. During this time some people may experience constipation and stress on the heart, lungs and kidneys. Weight gain is about 2 pounds. Stage 2: 4 to 6 months The breasts gradually increase in size, the waist thickens and the abdomen bulges slightly, with a dark line appearing down the center of the abdomen. Stretch marks and colostrums also begin to appear during this period. Your appetite begins to improve and you gain about 1 pound every 2 weeks. However, you do not need to eat a lot of food, as this may lead to rapid weight gain. Stage 3: 7 months to delivery Your breasts and abdomen enlarge rapidly and you develop edema, which causes you to gain weight more quickly, until you gain about 25 to 30 pounds before delivery. Some people experience heartburn, indigestion and leg cramps during this period, but these are normal and nothing to worry about. Excessive weight and ultrasound difficulties Pregnancy check-ups can also be difficult for overweight women, as Noémie, 26, tells us: “I was quite fat before I got pregnant, and when I went for my second ultrasound I was quite proud of myself because I had only gained 2 kilograms in the last 5 months of my pregnancy! However, the ultrasound went poorly. The doctor told me that he couldn’t see my fetus because I was too fat. On the report, he wrote that the ultrasound was performed under very difficult conditions because the abdominal wall was too thick. I felt so ashamed and guilty.” “It’s true that ultrasounds can be more difficult in overweight pregnant women,” Dr. Hatem admits, “The beam of the ultrasound becomes weak when it encounters thick fat.” Unfortunately, we’re not all equal when it comes to weight. Some people only gain a little weight later in their pregnancy, and some women can fit into their pre-pregnancy jeans right after giving birth! However, most pregnant women gain 15 to 18 kilograms of weight, says Dr. Gomorjeli, “I avoid making them feel guilty, but I do let them know that it’s also important to prepare for the end of the baby ahead of time. Six months after giving birth, people want to feel confident again and not be wrapped up in those bulky, baggy clothes. I coach them to develop healthy eating habits and design recipes for them. They were surprised when they adopted these suggestions. Although they felt that they ate more than before, a number of obese pregnant women lost a few kilograms after giving birth, without affecting their own health or that of their babies.