Mom, you're looking pretty

Six months before she got pregnant, a well-toned and healthy Shivani began a structured diet and exercise programme to lose some weight. At the end of that period, she had lost nearly eight kilos. She thought it appropriate to get pregnant then.
If you''re finding it difficult to understand why, the raison d''être is simpler than you think. A woman conscious of her appearance, Shivani decided it was best if she lost weight before conceiving.
For all that she put on during those nine months, would not make her look like a "stuffed pillow"! And more importantly, it would be easier to knock off the extra kilos and get back to shape after the baby was born.
Before you think the whole idea preposterous and write it off, you should know that an increasing number of women are beginning to think like Shivani. Chandigarh Times delves into a phenomenon that seems to have caught the fancy of most wannabe mothers today, and discovers that health is just as important an aspect on the agenda.
"I don''t think there''s anything wrong with trying to maintain your body weight. Most women tend to put on oodles of weight when they''re expecting and then find it difficult to get rid of it. However, ‘a doctor needs to be consulted beforehand'', because it is imperative to maintain the health of the mother and child," affirms homemaker Preeti Singh.
Always on the slender side, she never lost any weight before she conceived though. Mother of a cherubic ten-month-old son, she is back to her usual svelte looking shape today. "Less than five per cent of the women who get pregnant fall into this category.
It isn''t a trend that has become very popular but one that has the potential to. But we only advice those woman who are overweight to shed their extra poundage, for it could cause problems in the pregnancy in later stages. Those who are already on the margin or are underweight should never even consider this," tells city-based gynaecologist and obstetrician Dr Mangla Dogra.
Her concerns are not unfounded, for women can get obsessive about how they look. But when it comes to having a baby, you can be sure that the mums o-be have read up a lot.
"At all times during both my pregnancies, the health of my child was the most important thing on my mind. Though I was consciously monitoring my body weight, I never let it become an issue," avers cosmetologist Lalitha Gopal. And refuting the notion that such a regime before pregnancy can be dangerous is executive Ria Mehra.
"My son is five and I have never felt healthier in my life. What more proof can anyone want?" she questions.
Maybe not everyone, but for those who stand convinced, make sure you confer with your gynaecologist before starting on that extra mile at the end of your regular morning walk.