Dieting while pregnant puts health of mum, baby at risk

05 Aug 2008

Too many expectant mums are limiting their daily calorie intake and continuing to follow strict exercise regimes in an attempt to stay trim during pregnancy, according to experts.

Inspired by celebrity mums showing off tiny, neat bumps, women are actively putting not only their own health at risk but also the wellbeing of their unborn baby, for the sake of keeping weight off.

Pat O'Brien, a consultant obstetrician at University College Hospital and the Portland Hospital in London, told the Daily Mail: "It's vital women know that pregnancy is no time to be starving yourself. During the nine months it is in the womb the baby is growing faster than it ever will in later life."

In practice, the British Nutrition Foundation recommends women who are normal weight should gain around 10 kilos during pregnancy.

Studies have shown that pregnant women lacking in iron can develop anaemia, causing dizziness, irritability and exhaustion.

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