You are not eating for two!
03 June 2011 , 4:31 PM by Jo Laverty
But as it turns out, making significant weight gains during pregnancy could pose not just physical but also psychological risks for mothers and babies.
Deakin University is part of a three year National Health and Medical Research Council project which sees pregnancy as a critical time for intervention.
Associate Professor Helen Skouteris, from the University's School of Psychology, says that 50% of Australian women who are of childbearing age are overweight.
Mothers who enter pregnancy overweight or make significant weight gains while expecting face not only a battle to regain a healthy BMI, but also risk depression, body image issues and the possibility of children who are also more likely to be overweight.
Professor Skouteris explained to Genevieve that the effects of significant weight gain during pregnancy can take a decade or more to resolve, adding that she believes a two pronged intervention that takes into account physical and psychological aspects could significantly benefit women.