A comprehensive study carried out by the Institute of Medicine has led the researched to the conclusion that extra weight during the pregnancy isn’t a compromise that a mother should do for the sake of her child. In fact, the extra weight leads to health problems for both the mother and the baby.

Doctors say that pregnant mothers shouldn’t gain more than 40 pounds (18.1 kilograms). The research shows that those who do gain more are more likely to give birth to a heavy baby, according to the report of researchers from the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research.

A heavier-than-usual baby will most likely cause trauma to the mother and will also lead to blood loss, tearing and a greater chance of having a c-section. And this is not all. A baby who is born heavier that normal will most likely have obesity problems later in life.

Other adult health problems such as risk of coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes can also stem from birth weight, the study that was published in the Journal "Obstetrics and Gynecology" said.

One in five women from Washington, Oregon and Hawaii gain too much weight during pregnancy, the study showed. At a national scale, 43 percent of pregnant women gained more than recommended.

According to Teresa Hillier, an endocrinologist and senior researcher at Kaiser's Center for Health Research, the extra weight during pregnancy is overfeeding the baby and changing its metabolism.

"Our study provides one more good reason to gain the ideal weight during pregnancy," Hillier said.