Once, pregnancy was seen as giving women a green light to overindulge regardless of the consequences. But the health implications of carrying excess weight before and during pregnancy have put paid to the eating-for-two myth, with issues such as high blood pressure and gestational diabetes making pregnant women think twice before reaching for another biscuit.

Now a study suggests that even accepted levels of weight gain during pregnancy may increase the risk of having an overweight toddler.

The Herald