Doctors say one of the best things pregnant women can do for their health and the health of their unborn baby is to cap weight gain.  Mercy Medical Center OB/GYN Dr. Terry Hoffman said she stresses moderate weight gain for many reasons.

"It's a harder delivery, you're more likely to have a C-section, and the baby can have problems. We now know that childhood obesity is a terrible problem," she said. Hoffman said studies have shown that women who gain lots of weight have bigger babies who are more likely to become obese in childhood.

"I always ask women, 'What did you have for breakfast? For lunch? For dinner?' To try to get a gauge for what they're eating, and it's a lot of fast food. I say, 'You shouldn't even be going there,'" she said. Hoffman said women who are a normal weight should only gain about 25 pounds.

Shelly Shotzberger is in the 37th week of her second pregnancy. She said she gained 27 pounds in her first pregnancy and so far has gained 25 with the second. She said she knows anything extra is harder to get off afterward.

"I try to stay active, and I do little things like, instead of eating a big bowl of ice cream, I get frozen yogurt, or at night when you're hungry, I'll get a big bowl of grapes," Shotzberger said. She only has a couple of weeks to go, so she's right on the mark, according to Hoffman.