Obesity in pregnancy is risky
Dr Meenal Kumar
The prevalence of obesity is rising in developing countries, making pre-pregnancy overweight one of the most common high-risk situations for the health of the mother and her baby. About one-third pregnant women are obese. Even being moderately overweight is a risk factor during pregnancy and can lead to diabetes and hypertension.
Maternal overweight can be the cause for caesarean deliveries and a higher incidence of anaesthetic and postoperative complications. Birth defects are more frequent in infants of obese mothers than in infants of normal-weight mothers. Maternal obesity increases prenatal mortality. Long-term complications include worsening of maternal obesity and development of obesity in the infant.
The average cost of hospitalisation is higher for overweight mothers, and infants of such mothers require admission to neonatal intensive care units more often. Overall precaution against overeating, preconception counselling, careful management, tight monitoring of weight gain, and long-term follow-up may minimise social and economic consequences of pregnancies in overweight women. Depending upon your BMI, you can find out if you are at risk for obesity.
BMI is usually indexed as follows:
18.5 to 25: This is the ideal weight range for most normal, healthy men and women.
25 to 29.9: If you fall into this BMI range, you may be overweight for your body height.
30 and over: If your BMI measures 30 or higher, you may be obese for your body height.
If you are obese, you are at an increased risk of the following pregnancy complications:
Diabetes that develops during pregnancy, pre-eclampsia characterised by hypertension (high blood pressure) and the presence of protein in the urine
Abnormalities of the baby’s growth, development and general health
Sleep apnoea — a condition that causes you to temporarily stop breathing while you are sleeping
Failure to progress in labour
The shoulders get stuck during birth
Difficulties in monitoring the baby’s heart
Difficulties in providing satisfactory pain relief in labour
Increased risks with attempted vaginal birth after a caesarean section
Need for an emergency caesarean section
Increased risk of complications related to a caesarean section
Increased risk of wound infection
Increased risk of blood clots (particularly following a caesarean section)
Postnatal depression
That “eating for two” is a myth. Only a balanced diet is indicated. Women who are skinny before pregnancy are supposed to gain 25 to 35 pounds, but the overweight should gain only 15 to 25 pounds, and the obese just 15 pounds. Similarly, the intake of proteins in excess of 25 per cent of the total calories and an emphasis on non-vegetarian food can be harmful
If you are obese, consider losing weight through proper diet and exercise before becoming pregnant. Even minimal weight loss can help reduce the risk of developing complications.
You should not try to lose weight during pregnancy.
Obesity complicates pregnancy
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