Pregnant women have an excuse to eat whatever and however much they want, right? Nope, according to a new study conducted at Queen Mary, University of London and published in BMJ. Researchers noted that gaining too much weight during pregnancy can put a woman and her baby at higher risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, miscarriage, birth defects, blood clots, preeclampsia and (maternal and infant) death. They decided to see what was more effective in preventing those complications: diet, exercise or a combination of the two.

To do that, they observed data on over 7,000 women, including the amount of weight they gained during pregnancy and whether or not they had any health complications. They found that exercise, diet — limiting calorie intake; balancing protein, carbohydrates and fat; and eating foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables — and a combo of diet and exercise kept the women’s weight gain in check. But eating right was more effective than exercise in preventing certain complications: The women who watched their calorie intake were 33 percent less likely to develop preeclampsia, 60 percent less likely to have diabetes, 70 percent less likely to develop gestational high blood pressure and 32 percent less likely to deliver their babies preterm. The babies’ birth weights were not affected by the limits in calories.

You do need extra calories during pregnancy, but only about 300 more than you did pre-pregnancy if you’re in an average weight range, according to the American College of Obstetrician and Gynecologists. This study adds just one more reason you should stick to that recommendation and not overdo it. Find out how much weight is the right amount to gain for your body type here.

How much weight did you gain during pregnancy? How do you think that affected your health while expecting?

Plus, more from The Bump:

The Obsession With Pregnancy Weight Gain

What to Eat While You’re Pregnant

7 Healthy Meal Ideas for Pregnancy

See the picture above of the positively radiant, super cute, and healthy pregnant gal?  Yah, that’s not me.

I was not a perky pregnant person.  I was known as the “swollen one” in my Lamaze class.  The acid that percolated in my throat was only just a little more comfortable than the heart palpitations beating their off tempo beat or the constant queasy tummy (which forced me to eat nonstop resulting in a 65 lb weight gain).  I was also my OB’s worst nightmare.  I’d arrive to my appointments with my stack of post its and he spent hours calming me down from all from all the neurotic conditions I’d diagnosed myself with.  I felt SO lucky to be pregnant (after a loooong time trying), but I also felt and looked like CRAP.

So I thought it would be helpful to offer to my fellow GPP’s (Grumpy Pregnant People) some resources to help you know you aren’t alone and there are lots of ways you can feel better!

Need to vent?  Commiserate with other pregnant moms who tell it like it is.

Feel like crap? Consult our symptoms and conditions guide to get help with every symptom/condition you can think of (and some you haven’t).

Need some inspiration to keep your eye on the prize?  Check out these silly baby faces – one day soon you’ll have one of these cuties!