Maternal Weight

Maintaining a healthy weight can help women become pregnant, achieve a healthy pregnancy and improve chances of having a healthy baby. Being a healthy weight before pregnancy can decrease a women's risk of complications, such as high blood pressure and gestational diabetes, increase the risk of having an infant born preterm and increase a baby's risk of birth or heart defects. Talking to a healthcare provider, staying active and eating healthy foods are activities that can help a person maintain or get to a healthy weight before pregnancy.