well-being awareness


28 weeks. If gestational diabetes is diagnosed, it can often be treated with dietary changes alone. However, some women will require insulin or other medications to lower blood glucose. You will want to continue to stick to your weight-gain guidelines and modest exercise regimen. In the third trimester you will see your


provider more frequently to monitor your blood pressure, screen for protein in your urine and ensure that your baby continues to grow adequately. You will want to be sure your little one is moving every day, and your provider can instruct you on kick counts or how to monitor fetal movement. Some women will need additional fetal testing or ultrasounds as the due date approaches.


30


For some women with obesity, labor can


be a slower process than for normal-weight women; however, the pushing time is the same and most women with an otherwise uncomplicated pregnancy still go on to have a normal vaginal delivery. Breastfeeding is still encouraged for all women as a way to improve the health of mom and baby in the long term, as well as for a quicker return to pre-pregnancy weight. With healthy living habits and close at-  obesity, rest assured that you can still have a healthy pregnancy and delivery.


Margaret K. Chory, MD, is a general obstetri- cian/gynecologist practicing in Pittsburgh, PA.


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