Fat & Happy

When a pregnant woman feels sorry for herself and wants a chocolate fudge sundae, she should have it, says Dr. Arthur G. King of Cincinnati. In the current American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. King challenges the prevailing fashion among obstetricians of warning patients to keep their weight gains below an arbitrary 25 pounds.

Limiting weight, says Dr. King, is urged "with sweeping but poorly documented claims" that it lessens the dangers of miscarriage, stillbirths and malformations. This argument, he reports, can cause hysterical fear in some impressionable women.

Dr. King contends that when a pregnant woman eats more than she actually needs it is because of insecurity--worry about her health, her child's health, her husband's fidelity, or fear that pregnancy will leave her less attractive. At such times, "a big chocolate fudge sundae carries her back to the carefree days of her childhood."

Dr. King suggests that instead of frightening the patient and browbeating her into passing up favorite foods, the doctor should let her eat what she wants, soothe her fears and give her "a mature, optimistic orientation." His clincher: uninhibited, free-fed women have an easier time in labor.

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