Healthy Pregnancy: How to Reduce Baby’s Chances of Childhood Obesity

Q. My mom has struggled with weight all of her life. I have too. I've just found out I'm pregnant and having a girl. I don't want my daughter to fight obesity all her life the way my mom and I have. How can I make her body different?
-- Anonymous, via e-mail

A. Start with patting yourself on the back 10 times for asking. You're already being a great mom! Here are four ways to improve your daughter's odds of not having weight problems. They begin with a healthy pregnancy, of course. Some of this new research may surprise you, and scientists don't totally understand all of it yet, but not doing these is strongly associated with childhood obesity by age 7.

1. If you smoke, stop today. It's important for weight problems as well as for many other medical reasons. Don't go near anyone who smokes either. Secondhand smoke is just as bad.
2. Limit how much "baby weight" you gain. The healthier your weight during pregnancy, the better for both of you. Extra fat cells in your body teach the fetus that extra fat cells are essential for survival. Also, the more you weigh now, the less you should gain during pregnancy. To check your weight status, use this BMI calculator. If you're overweight, gain 15 to 25 pounds tops; if you're obese, 11 to 20 pounds. During the first trimester, a typical mom-to-be needs only 100 extra calories a day (a glass of skim milk); during the second trimester, 250 calories (10 walnut halves and an apple); during the third, 300 calories (three pieces of fruit). Here's what to look for in prenatal vitamins.
3. Breastfeed for 12 months. It's what the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends for multiple health reasons. Not only will it help your daughter avoid obesity later, it will also help you lose weight after pregnancy. Check out these 5 myths about breastfeeding.
4. After your baby's born, be sure she sleeps at least 12 hours a day. Not getting this much sleep early in life is strongly associated with childhood obesity later.

There's more but this is a short column! Our book YOU: Having a Baby is 100% about improving your baby's health (yours, too). Check your library. We're not trying to sell books. We're trying to do what you're trying to do: Make your baby healthier.

Are there any foods you really should and shouldn't eat during pregnancy? Yes!