Pregnancy diet affects baby's weight

More research reiterates the importance of a mother's diet during pregnancy. Researchers from Cal Poly and Brown University in Providence concluded that expectant mothers should limit their intake of sweets early in pregnancy to avoid increasing their baby's chance of becoming obese. For the study, researchers reviewed what 285 women ate during their pregnancies. They then looked at their babies' birth weights and their babies' weights at six months of age. The concluded the following:

Overweight and obese women who were consuming more than 20% of their calories from sweets (desserts, candy, soda) had more than two times the risk of having an overweight or obese baby at birth and at six months than heavy women consuming less than 20% of calories from sweets

Normal-weight expectant moms who drank sugar-sweetened beverages in the first trimester were at a higher risk of having large babies than the women who didn't consume much of them. (Source: USA Today)

Like everything else in life, moderation is the key. "You can eat sweets during pregnancy, but not every day. And if you do eat a sweet, go for an extra walk or bike ride or swim," says Emily Oken, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School. Oken focuses on studies nutrition during pregnancy. A lot of recent research links what a mom eats during her pregnancy to her baby's later health and weight. For example, a recent study concluded that a mom's consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids during pregnancy might increase her baby's immunity and decrease his allergies. Furthermore, another study showed that eating junk food during pregnancy might make your baby more likely to crave junk food later in life. Again, moderation is the key. If you have questions about your eating habits during pregnancy, talk to your doctor. More on diet during pregnancy High fat pregnancy diet might increase baby's future chance of developing diabetes Does eating junk food during pregnancy make your child more likely to eat junk food? What your eat during pregnancy affects your baby's future eating habits