Why is it important to have a healthy weight before I get pregnant?

According to the IOM, the ideal situation is conceiving at a healthy weight, and gaining the right number of pounds for the subsequent nine months. Starting pregnancy at a healthy weight provides a baby with better odds of developing normally and minimizes complications, including high blood pressure and cesarean delivery, in mom.

Once you're pregnant, the horse is out of the barn, as far as your body weight goes. However, it's never too early to plan for the next pregnancy. There's no need to rush, but make an effort to return to your prepregnancy weight, or a healthy weight, within a year of delivering your baby.