Blog: It’s not that long ago that being pregnant was the one time in a woman’s life when she could finally let her guard down in terms of diet.

Her nearest and dearest would positively encourage second helpings and that extra slice of cake with the affectionate go-ahead of “you are eating for two after all”.

I know when I was pregnant with my son I looked forward to seeing my body swell and the little line swing even higher on the weighing scales.

It was comfort eating of a different kind as I insisted on three very square meals a day and plenty of snacks in between – almost fearing that any faint pang of hunger would mean my growing baby was not getting what he needed and would be damaged in some way.

It’s a fraught time for women as they negotiate the various pieces of advice on what to eat and what not to eat – the rollercoaster ride that is consuming nuts while with child is still so shrouded in vague advice you could actually go nuts trying to work it out.

But now it seems quantity could be a problem.

The whole “eating for two” take on things has been exploded as a myth, with health experts declaring there is no need for any extra calories when pregnant – at least not until the later stages and even then only the smallest addition to the recommended intake.

So today’s news that health professionals are dealing with an epidemic of obesity among pregnant women is worrying and the list of possible complications and risks it leads to is even more scary.

I’d hazard a guess though that for most of the women included in this report the problem was there long before pregnancy – but possibly more difficult to tackle while expecting. I believe most women want to be responsible when they are expecting a baby. It’s often before, when we only have ourselves to consider, that we give in the most to convenience and temptation that just isn’t any good for us.

Shortly after finding out I was pregnant I had popped to Sainsburys for those last-minute bits and pieces on the way home from work. As I would always do I hovered over the chocolate stand ready to pick that snack for the drive home – which under normal circumstances would have been the second or third chocolate bar of the day. Quick and easy. That was until I remembered my condition and headed for the fruit and veg section, grabbed a pack of those ready-prepared chopped carrots which I promptly chomped on the way home. And the joke of it is I enjoyed them almost as much much as the chocolate. I have slipped back into old habits since; my son’s nutritional needs don’t depend on what I consume.

I remember thinking to myself at the time I wish I could do this when not pregnant. If only women could learn to look after ourselves as much as our little bundles of joy we might all tackle this obesity crisis and have a healthier attitude all round.

This is not about squeezing back into those size 10 jeans. This is about a healthy mum giving birth to a healthy baby.

By Tracey O’Sullivan