Pregnancy and Obesity

It seems that weight is a never ending concern in a woman's life.

She spends her life either being far too thin or far too large. She is generally advised by everyone from her hairdresser to the clerk at the grocery store on how to control her weight and look better.

Never is this sad fact of life more obvious, than when she becomes pregnant. For some odd reason, pregnant women are seen to be community property. They exist to be fondled and have their bellies' rubbed by complete strangers and their every action and choice is openly questioned and discussed. The mass media, tends to alternate between skewering women for not eating enough(Natalie Portman) and exercising too much during pregnancy (Nicole Kidman) and then berates the other half of the female population for being too sedentary (Mariah Carey) and eating far too much.

Lets step away from all of the hysteria for a moment and see what actual risks exist and what is a realistic expectation.

How does obesity affect a woman's pregnancy?

According to this article obesity is determined when an individual is more than 30% above their "ideal" body weight as show on a Body Mass Index chart.

Complications For Mom
If you are obese during pregnancy, you are at risk of several serious health complications, including:

•Preeclampsia: Preeclampsia is a condition which causes high blood pressure, fluid retention, and swelling during pregnancy. When serious, preeclampsia can restrict placental blood flow, endangering baby.
•Gestational Diabetes: Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. It prevents your body from breaking down sugar and can put your baby at risk for gaining too much weight in utero.
•Cesarean Section: Women who are obese during pregnancy have an increased risk of experiencing problems during delivery. Labor is more likely to be slow and prolonged, increasing the likelihood of cesarean section.
•Postpartum Infection: Obesity during pregnancy also makes you more vulnerable to experiencing a difficult postpartum recovery. In particular, if you have had a c-section, you are at risk for developing dangerous postpartum infections.

Complications for Baby
If you are obese during your pregnancy, you baby is also at risk for developing some dangerous health issues.

•Macrosoma: Macrosoma is a condition in which your baby puts on too much weight during development. This can complicate labor and delivery, making it difficult for your baby to enter and exit the birth canal. Some large babies have their shoulders injured during birth. This is known as shoulder dystonia.
•Neural Tube Defects: Babies born to obese mothers are also at increased risk of suffering dangerous neural tube defects during development. Neural tube defects, like spina bifida and anencephaly, are often associated with low levels of folic acid during the first trimester. These defects can frequently be detected early in pregnancy through the use of ultrasound imaging. However, women who are obese often produce poor ultrasounds. Because the ultrasound waves have trouble penetrating extra layers of fat, blurry images are produced. As a result, neural tube defects aren’t always detected in these babies.
•Childhood Obesity: Studies show that babies who are born to obese mothers are more likely to suffer from obesity by the time they reach the age of four. In one recent study, 29% of children born to obese mothers were also obese by the age of four, compared with only 9% of babies born to mothers of normal weight.

What Can You Do?
If you are suffering from obesity, there are a few steps that you can take to help reduce the health risks posed to you and your baby.

•Lose Weight Before Pregnancy: If you are planning on getting pregnant in the near future, get your weight evaluated by your health care provider. If you are obese, consider losing weight through proper diet and exercise. Even minimal weight loss can help to radically reduce your risk of pregnancy complications. Those that are severely obese may want to consider obesity surgery.
•Watch your Weight Gain: Even if you are obese, you should never try to lose weight during pregnancy. Weight loss or changes in diet can prevent your baby from getting the calories and nutrients she needs to grow properly. Instead, focus on gaining weight in moderation. Most obese women need to gain between 15 and 25 pounds, putting on the majority of the weight during the third trimester.
•Exercise: Exercise should be continued throughout your pregnancy. Talk with your health care provider about exercise levels that would be appropriate for you. Even if it’s just walking around the block a few times, exercise can really help to reduce your risk of potential health complications.

Although modern medicine can now help pregnant women to solve most issues and prevent quite a few problems during pregnancy and childbirth, it seems that one of the most advantageous things a future mom can do, is to prepare ahead of time and attain a healthy weight prior to conceiving. In doing so, she will be able to avoid almost all of the above complications and give herself and her baby the best chance possible for a healthy life.

But is way too skinny any better? Well, we will see tomorrow when we post about it!