Pregnant women who are too thin are at risk of experiencing these 4 things

For women who have below normal weight and want to plan a pregnancy, it is advisable to increase body weight first. This is because pregnant women who are too thin are more at risk of developing pregnancy complications.

You can be said to be too thin when you have a body mass index (BMI) below 18.5. Starting a pregnancy with a body that is too thin can carry various risks. In addition, it is likely that you will have difficulty increasing your body weight as recommended during pregnancy.

The Risks That Occur If You Are Too Thin Pregnant

The following are some of the risks of pregnancy complications that you may experience if you are too thin during pregnancy:

1. Miscarriage

Although it can be caused by various things, miscarriage can also be caused by the condition of the pregnant woman's body being too thin. To reduce this risk, your doctor may give you recommendations for improving your nutritional intake.

2. Premature birth

Pregnant with a body that is too thin can also put you at risk of giving birth to a baby earlier than expected. You are said to have given birth prematurely if the delivery occurred before 37 weeks of gestation.

Premature babies are very susceptible to various infections, and are more at risk of developing various health problems, such as respiratory problems, metabolic disorders, or bleeding in the brain.

3. The size of the fetus is too small

The fetus gets nutrition from the mother. If you are pregnant in a state that is too thin, nutrition for yourself is lacking, especially for the little one in the womb. This can inhibit fetal growth, which is medically known as stunted fetal growth or intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).

If this happens, the baby is at risk of being deprived of oxygen at birth, as well as having low blood sugar levels and thick blood due to the large number of red blood cells. Your baby can also be more at risk of developing disabilities and neurological disorders, and will need to be delivered by caesarean section.

4. Babies born with low weight

Normal baby weight at birth is about 2.5–3.5 kg. However, if you are too thin during pregnancy, your baby may be born with a low birth weight or less than 2.5 kg.

Let's Increase Your Weight!

To prevent being too thin during pregnancy, you can try the following ways:

  • Never skip meals, especially breakfast.
  • If it is difficult to finish large meals at once, you can eat small portions 5-6 times a day.
  • Always have healthy snacks on hand, such as cheese, crackers, nuts, dried fruit, yogurt, or ice cream, to make them easy to eat at any time.
  • Try to multiply foods that are high in good fats, such as olive oil, avocado, nuts, or fish.
  • Consume fresh juices, such as orange juice, papaya juice, or grape juice.
  • Add peanut butter, cheese, butter, or cream cheese to your meals.
  • Regular check-ups with the doctor to monitor your weight gain. The obstetrician will determine whether it is safe for you to start a pregnancy program.

Pregnant with a body condition that is too thin can harm the fetus. Therefore, try to increase your weight in the ways above, before planning a pregnancy. If you are still having trouble gaining weight, you should check with your doctor, because this could be due to certain diseases or medical conditions.