Pregorexia!

Okay, so I read about a somewhat new phenomena - Pregorexia!

What is it?

It is a "condition" where during pregnancy; women are obsessed with maintaining an unhealthy weight (too little).

What can happen if you are not gaining enough weight during pregnancy?

Dr. Holly Phillips spoke on the Today Show about this condition. She noted that,

"Calorie restriction is linked with growth retardation (and) birth defects, and (with) vitamin deficiencies, both for the mother and baby. What's interesting about vitamin deficiencies is, say, for instance, with calcium deficiency: The baby will probably get what he or she needs, but that'll be at the expense of the mother's bones. So, you really have to be careful with that and take in more calories overall than you ordinarily would."

How much should you gain while pregnant?

Mothers of average weight are advised to gain 25-35 pounds during pregnancy. If you're overweight, you should aim for the lower end of that range, and if you're underweight before pregnancy you, should gain between 28-40 pounds. Moms of twins may gain 45 or more.

How can you maintain a healthy weight?

Eat a variety of healthy foods. Limit your intake of sugary sweets and other foods that are considered to be "junk". Junk foods just pack on unhealthy weight and don't provide any vital nutrients for you or baby. Practice mild-moderate exercise. There is no need to overdo it, but there have been many benefits associated for pregnant women who exercise around 30 minutes per day. A mother's mental and physical health can be improved, many mothers have easier deliveries, they have better postpartum recoveries, and for some babies they even gain a higher I.Q. for the baby.

The best advice is simply - eat healthy - feel healthy - have a healthy baby!