Difficulty in Getting Pregnant:

Why Your Weight Matters

If you are experiencing difficulty in getting pregnant, you may be feeling frustrated, scared, and discouraged.

There are many reasons that you may be dealing with infertility, but there are some things that you may be able to do to increase your chance for conceiving.

You may not have thought of pre pregnancy planning as losing weight, but if you are overweight, maybe it should be!

First, it is important to know that there have been quite a few studies conducted regarding infertility and weight. A woman’s BMI (body mass index), weight status, and amount of physical activity may all be factors in fertility.

One study* showed that being overweight and having a sedentary lifestyle can cause an increased risk for ovulatory infertility. However, according to this study, a person’s risk for ovulatory infertility can be decreased by 7% for each hour of vigorous activity per week.

Studies have shown that being at a healthy weight before pregnancy is important. Not only does it make conception easier, but it also increases your chance for a healthy pregnancy.

Maternal obesity increases risk for hypertension, gestational diabetes, and problems with labor. Not only may your weight affect your health, but also your baby’s health. Neural tube defects and childhood obesity are only two of multiple problems that may occur due to maternal obesity.

So, if you are overweight and having difficulty in getting pregnant, consider making it a priority to shed some pounds and get in better shape!

(*Epidemiology. 13(2):184-190, March 2002.Rich-Edwards, Janet W. 1 2; Spiegelman, Donna 3 4; Garland, Miriam 5; Hertzmark, Ellen 3; Hunter, David J. 3 6; Colditz, Graham A. 3 6; Willett, Walter C. 3 5 6; Wand, Handan 4; Manson, JoAnn E. 3 6 7)

1. Start with baby steps. Don’t get overwhelmed with trying to change everything in your diet all at once. Instead, pick one or two areas that need improvement and work on those.

2. Cut back on portions. Even if you don’t change what you eat, change how much you are eating.

3. Do not skip breakfast! That’s one of the biggest mistakes people make, because our bodies need the fuel in the morning.

4. Include exercise in your weight loss plan. Exercise will not only be a way of burning calories, but can also speed up your metabolism, which makes your body more efficient in burning calories.

5. Keep healthy foods, especially snacks, readily available. If eating something healthy is going to require a lot of time and work, you are probably going to grab something unhealthy instead. Be sure that you have some healthy foods ready to grab!

Not only will you hopefully have less difficulty in getting pregnant, but also feel better about yourself, help prevent disease, and be a good role model for your child.