Underweight Pregnancy: Understand the Risks

by Dr Deepti Asthana Best Gynae, Gynecologist in Gurgaon

Whether you are pregnant or not, having a healthy weight can give fruitful outcomes, which include slow ageing, maintaining stamina, reducing likelihood of developing health issues, and many more. However, during pregnancy being underweight or overweight could adversely affect your health. Therefore, if you’re someone who is underweight then it is suggested to gain weight to improve your conception ability.

Being underweight poses risks to both mother and baby. Therefore to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy you must address a high-risk pregnancy doctor in Gurgaon.

At Kalosa Obs and Gynae Clinic, we have experts like Dr Deepti Asthana, the leading high risk pregnancy doctor in Gurgaon. She has expertise in high-risk pregnancy management and makes sure that your overall pregnancy journey is smooth.

Read the blog post carefully to learn how underweight pregnancy can affect your health and your baby.

Optimal Weight For a Healthy Pregnancy

Being underweight (BMI less than 18.5) before conception is not ideal. If your weight lies below the 45 kg weight range then you have a chance of a high risk pregnancy and need the supervision of an expert gynaecologist to deliver a physically and mentally fit baby.

If you’re having an underweight pregnancy, Dr Deepti Asthana, leading Gynecologist at Kalosa recommends gaining a minimum of 10-12 kg to enhance the chances of a healthy pregnancy.

Risks Associated with Underweight Pregnancy

As discussed, a healthy weight range is crucial to manifest a healthy pregnancy. But how to determine whether your weight is appropriate for the pregnancy phase?

A tool named Body Mass Index (BMI) is used to check whether you are overweight or underweight, helpful in determining body fat percentage based upon an individual's height and weight.

If you are pregnant below the healthy weight range, then make it compulsory to check your weight at each prenatal appointment. In case of any confusion you can also consult a health care expert to understand what is your ideal for conception and for healthy child birth.

There are several risk factors associated with underweight pregnancy to the mother, which are:

Preterm labor.
Increased risk of anemia during pregnancy.
Breast Milk may be reduced.
Increased risk of C-Section delivery

Impact of Underweight Pregnancy on Fetus/ Baby?

Underweight pregnancy in women led to delivery of a baby with a low birth weight. Therefore, women gaining weight after conceiving is crucial as it is responsible for the fetus's growth and development. In addition, weight gain during the initial month of pregnancy is responsible for energy storage and the production of breast milk after delivery.

Inadequate weight during pregnancy can lead to significant health issues and affect the overall health and growth of mother and baby, says Dr Deepti Asthana, a renowned gynaecologist and the best obstetrician in Gurgaon. Below are the factors that affect fetus/baby health.

Less Weight of Baby After Birth

Newborn infants with a weight less than five pounds are termed as low birth weight babies.

Low birth weight babies pose several health challenges, including regulation of body temperature, mouth feeding and maintaining the immune system. As a consequence, their body becomes vulnerable and has higher chances of experiencing longer-term health issues. So, to treat low birth weight babies, they are kept in NICU, where they are kept in a temperature control bed and provided special feeding with tubes.

Premature Birth

Underweight pregnant women are at a greater risk of giving birth prematurely and are unable to complete the gestational period (37 weeks). As per senior and expert gynecologist in Gurgaon, Dr Deepti says that premature birth can lead to several health issues because their organs are not developed completely to function outside the womb. The health issues include jaundice, autoimmune conditions, respiratory distress syndrome and more.

Low Immune Function

Newborns delivered by underweight mothers may experience lack of immunity, rendering them more vulnerable to infections.

Maintain Healthy Weight During Pregnancy

If you’re having an underweight pregnancy then it is advised to follow a diet which consists of lots of fibre, unsaturated fats, protein, omega - 3, and other high-calorie-rich foods. Dr Deepti says that diet choices not only promote a healthy weight gain but also contribute to the strength required to deliver a healthy baby.

Apart from that, taking small meals in a short span of time also promotes weight gain in pregnancy. During the pregnancy phase, you must add nutrient-rich fruits, nuts, plenty of water, vitamins and minerals to support fetus growth and breast milk production.

Wrap Up

When a woman is underweight during pregnancy, it can lead to complications such as premature birth, low birth weight of the baby, and even developmental issues. This is why it's crucial to seek medical advice from a high-risk pregnancy doctor who can provide specialized care and monitoring throughout the pregnancy journey.

By working with experienced healthcare professionals like Dr Deepti Asthana, a leading high risk pregnancy specialist and the best Gynae in Gurgaon, women can mitigate the risks associated with underweight pregnancies and increase their chances of having a successful delivery. For the past ten years, she has been associated with FMRI Gurgaon as a senior consultant and also practices in her own clinic, Kalosa Obs and Gynae Clinic Gurgaon

For a more detailed consultation, you can book your appointment today with our experts!