The majority of American women who are of childbearing age are either overweight or obese.
This can affect how much they can afford to gain during pregnancy.
The Institute of Medicine recently updated its recommendations.
There is now a new weight range for obese women.
Beth Boebel is just weeks away from giving birth to her first child.
She's been trying not to gain too much weight during her pregnancy by eating healthy and exercising.
"The more weight you gain the more complications you can have," said Boebel
Phyllis Turk, a Certified Nurse Midwife with Montgomery Obstetrics and Gynecology, recommends dietary counseling for her patients.
She says women need to get away from idea, they have to eat for two.
"The beginning of pregnancy you have to realize that second one is about the size of kidney bean. So it's not going to need more than an extra calorie or two," said Turk.
How much a woman can gain depends a lot on where she starts.
According the new guidelines, a normal weight woman should gain no more than 25 to 35 pounds. If she's overweight no more than 15 to 25 pounds. And if she is obese, no more than 11-20 pounds.
Turk says it's a topic that's not always easy to discuss.
"I've seen women unfortunately get very defensive," said Turk.
But gaining too much weight can lead to retaining extra pounds after birth, the women needing a C-Section, having the baby born preterm or having a larger than normal baby.
"Childhood obesity is definitely related to birth weight and that's something that's coming up more and more with these new guidelines," said Turk
Boebel has gained 30 1/2 pounds. She has stayed with the guidelines for her weight.
She know it's going to make her delivery easier and getting the baby weight off.
"We spend our summers on the lake, so I've got to get back into the bathing suit," said Boebel
But what's most important to any expecting mom, is having a healthy baby
For more information on the updated recommendations just go to http://www.iom.edu/pregnancyweightgain
