Women who are underweight before they become pregnant are 72 % more likely to have a miscarriage in the first three months of pregnancy, according to a study from the London school of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
The study involved more than 6,600 women, aged 18-55. In this same study it was found that underweight women can significantly reduce their risk of miscarriage in the first trimester by about 50% by taking supplements with folate and iron and by eating a healthy diet with fresh fruits and vegetables.
Medical News Today, Dec 2006
Comments :
This is something that is affecting a lot of women, myself included. For some it can be hard to keep weight on due to an extremely active metabolism, stress, or not eating the correct diet. There are a couple of reasons this affects the fertility of women who are underweight. Women with low body fat do not have enough fat to produce the correct amounts of hormones, especially progesterone, to sustain a healthy pregnancy, amongst other functions of the body.
How do you know if you are too skinny?
You can find out if you are underweight by finding out your Body Mass Index. I am 5’4″ and my BMI was 18.4. That is just under the minimum. If I gained 1# I would be in the healthy range. My weight fluctuates 2-3 lbs. I can lose quicker than I can gain, so I have to watch that I am eating Nutrient Dense Foods to keep my body healthy.
What can you do?
There are a couple of things you can do to increase your weight in a healthy way:
If you are underweight eating the Nutrient Dense Fertility Diet is going to be of utmost importance to you and also being a wholefood multivitamin.
Hethir Rodriguez is the Founder of Natural Fertility Info.com. She is a Certified Herbalist, has a bachelors in Nutrition Sciences and is a trained Birth Doula and Massage Therapist. As a Natural Fertility Specialist, Hethir is dedicated to helping to provide a source for high quality, research based information and support for those on their journey to parenthood.
