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Craving Sugar While Expecting
Tips for Tackling Your Sweet Tooth
By Shannon McKelden
"Gaining more than 25 to 35 pounds for an average-weight woman can cause problems with blood pressure, diabetes and even increase the risk of needing a C-section," says Dr. Jennifer L. Ashton, an OB/GYN from Englewood, N.J.
Some of these side effects became a problem for Harmony Cornwell, a mother of two from Maple Ridge, British Columbia. She had always had a sweet tooth, but during pregnancy found that chocolates and pastries became cravings.
"With my first pregnancy, I just ate what I wanted until I was 20 weeks pregnant and found out that I had gestational diabetes (which is six weeks earlier than they normally test for the disease)," Cornwell says. "By this point I had already gained a whopping 30 pounds."
Her second pregnancy ended in a miscarriage at eight weeks, but already she was experiencing the cravings. "With my third pregnancy, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes at 5 weeks!" Cornwell says. "My GP did a simple glucose test in the office and my blood sugar was off the charts."
With the support of specialists (an endocrinologist, nutritionist and a specialty nurse), Cornwell kept her diabetes under control. While she found it difficult to not have the treats, she was highly motivated by the risks to her developing baby.
"Although it will never be known for certain, my endocrinologist suspects my miscarriage may have been due to high blood sugars during such a crucial stage of the baby's development," Cornwell says.
Other risks include poor dental health (since pregnancy puts added stress on teeth) and poor fetal and maternal nutrition. Hazards of excessive weight gain include birth complications, high blood pressure and physical discomforts (backache, leg pain).
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