In the last few years doctors have been warning against gaining too much weight in pregnancy, but it appears the message hasn't quite sunk in with mums-to-be and their partners.

For years doctors promoted the idea of eating for two, and many people still abide by this old fashioned saying. A recent survey by The Information Standard revealed that 41% of men believe that pregnant women should eat for two, while one in five has admitted to encouraging a pregnant friend or relative to eat more! 

Even celebrity mums like Jessica Simpson and Hilary Duff have embraced the old wives tale. In a recent interview Hilary, mum to three-month-old Luca, said: ‘My whole life I’ve worked out and exercised and been in the public eye and always kind of watched what I ate – and this [pregnancy] was like a free pass and it was a blast.’

However, researchers from Queen Mary University of London have recently revealed that around 15% of British mums-to-be are obese, and a third gain more than the recommended amount of weight while they are expecting. Doctors are now trying to change the way people think about pregnancy weight gain. 

And while healthy women are being advised to put on between 25-35lbs during pregnancy, doctors are now advocating little or no weight gain for obese mums-to-be. 

Doctors are now recommending healthy, controlled diets for overweight pregnant mums instead. Consultant obstetrician Dr Shakila Thanaratinam says: ‘We are seeing more and more women who gain excess weight when they are pregnant. These women and their babies are at increased risk of complications, but this study shows that […] following a controlled diet has the potential to reduce the risk of a number of pregnancy conditions.’ 

What do you think? How much weight did you put on while you were expecting?