Experts debate weight gain during pregnancy

Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports:

in recent decades, weight gain recommendations for pregnant women have climbed steadily. In 1970, concerned that weight gain restrictions were leading to low birth weight babies, experts raised the limit to 25 pounds. In 1990, the current recommendation of 25-35 pounds for normal weight women was set.

And women have kept pace. In 2003, the average pregnancy gain was 30.5 pounds, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. That's up from about 25 pounds in the mid-1960s. Some studies also suggest women retain an average of 10 pounds after every pregnancy.

Now, with so many women going into pregnancy already overweight or obese, experts are revisiting the issue, this time with an emphasis on the mother's long-term health.

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