| Gone are the days when being pregnant was an | | | | Of course, there are some naturally slim women who |
| excuse to eat for two. Women that had spent much | | | | will look this way whilst pregnant because of their |
| of their lives on diets gave themselves over to the | | | | genes but if it is not natural then it shouldn't be forced. |
| brooding and nesting instinct and allowed themselves | | | | Babies will very rarely suffer because a woman's |
| to sit back and nurture the new life growing inside of | | | | body is very adept at leeching all the nutrients it needs |
| them. Of course, there were those who did this in the | | | | to send to the baby but go through childbirth and see |
| extreme and became excessively overweight to the | | | | what it takes out of you. With not enough reserves |
| point of endangering their offspring, but in general it | | | | your energy levels will be at an all time low, right when |
| was considered a good thing to put your feet up and | | | | you are having to get up for midnight feeds. |
| put on a couple of stone. | | | | As well as gruelling exercise regimes, these mothers |
| The tables have turned in the other direction now. In | | | | are literally starving themselves to ensure they don't |
| woman's quest to have everything, the perfect post | | | | gain too much weight during pregnancy. One of the |
| baby body has entered at the top of the wish list and | | | | main food groups they cut out is dairy because of its |
| women are now pushing themselves into gruelling | | | | high fat content but this is just crazy. Calcium is |
| exercise regimes throughout their pregnancies in their | | | | needed by mother and baby more now than at any |
| bid to look immaculate after childbirth and to keep up | | | | time in their lives and to deprive either party is sheer |
| with standards set by celebrities that come equipped | | | | craziness. |
| with personal trainers and chefs. | | | | Red meat is also something that women need during |
| How, and just as importantly why, would women want | | | | pregnancy for its high iron content. Pregnant women |
| to put themselves through this during pregnancy right | | | | need, on average, fifty per cent more iron than the |
| at a time when they should be absorbing all the | | | | average woman and without it they will become |
| nutrients they can get? When they should be making | | | | anaemic which can lead to all sorts of problems when |
| the most of any rest time they can get would they be | | | | it comes to the birth itself where blood loss is likely to |
| out pounding the pavements in a bid to stay a certain | | | | occur. |
| way? Is it vanity or an attempt to keep themselves fit | | | | Extreme dieting and too much exercise during |
| and healthy for childbirth and beyond? Women have | | | | pregnancy can lead to low birth weight babies. Low |
| managed for many years to come through childbirth | | | | birth weight is linked to heart disease, depression and |
| without a fitness plan leading up to D day. | | | | poor growth and cognitive problems in later life. |
| This new phenomena has even been given the name | | | | Staying as active as you previously were whilst you |
| pregorexia - a take on the eating disorder of anorexia | | | | are pregnant is a good thing to keep up to ensure you |
| but for pregnant women. Markers that you are | | | | don't lose any of your flexibility and to aid with childbirth |
| pregorexic are your proud boasts that you do not 'look | | | | but a diet that is rich in essential nutrients is absolutely |
| pregnant from behind' and that you can still fit into your | | | | vital for a healthy mother and baby. |
| pre-pregnancy jeans until at least six or seven months. | | | | |