how to avoid extra unwanted weight gain when pregnant

Question

if a woman 5'3, weighs around 190+ pounds and she gets pregnant, how can she avoid gaining extra weight other than what is expected. i'm kinda in this situation but i'm still not sure if i am pregnant or not. i would still like to know either way it goes for future reference. also, diabetes and high blood pressure runs in my family on both my mom and dad side so i know i'm going to have to watch what i eat and keep a diet healthy enough for a growing baby. i really don't want to gain more weight than i have to b/c it's goin to be really hard for me to lose and it's not good for me b/c of my family health history. any suggestions (on diet & exercise) from women with similar body types that got pregnant would be great. thanks!  :o) 
ps--- i know i will gain weight...that is a given, i in no way want to jeapordize a gift from God by being egotistical with how i look...i just want to avoid a life threatening health issues, diabetes & high blood pressure. i lost an aunt due to high blood pressure while she was going through labor so you can see why i am worried.

GRose · Answer

When I got pregnant I was 5'5" and weighed 170, my doc said that since I was already overweight that I really shouldn't gain any weigh 10-15 pounds TOPS. I ended up gaining about 30lbs because of how swollen I was but all of it went away pretty quickly since it was mainly water weight. 
Have you done a pregnancy test yet???????

Elyz1214 · Answer

I was a size 18/20 before I got pregnant (though I am 5'9"). My doctor advised me not to gain more than 10-15 lbs the whole pregnancy. So far I'm 32 weeks and have gained 8 lbs. Of course, I have been extremely nauseated so that is a big part of it.

However, just make sure you eat right and start walking, as your pregnancy progresses you will feel like doing less and less so start doing it early!

Once I started eating healthy I was surprised at how many different foods I liked that I would have never eaten before when I was eating unhealthy. Even things like broccoli and cauliflower and fish - I *never* ate those before and now I like them!

ashiepooh · Answer

It's never too late to take a swimming class!  Of course for the part where they tell you to hold your breathe, i'd probably tell them why you can't do that.  LOL   But it is fun, and it works all your muscles!

cincintx · Answer

well that makes me feel better. i think i've heard of that to but i wasn't sure

mamaofonetrying42 · Answer

The best thing is to eat healthy!

cincintx · Answer

oooh swimming sounds fun....but i dunno how lol i guess it would be a good time to learn and be a great work out all at the same time.

ashiepooh · Answer

I'd say with both diabetes and high blood pressure, just to make sure you eat healthy, and try to walk everyday, and or take up swimming (that helps keep a pregnant woman in extra good shape) Give water aerobics a try. that's how I would do it if it were me. But your doctor, if you are pregnant, would be able to give you the best advice! I would walk everyday though, like 2 to 3 miles if possible.

alaysha · Answer

Just eat super healthy. Surprisingly a lot of people that are overweight post pregnancy actually loose weight during their pregnancies because they are eating so well and their babies turn out fine.