Obesity During Pregnancy Raises Risk for Both Mother and Child

The era of not doing any activity and sitting for many hours. Today much of our work is done with just some clicks and scrolls, this has made us as part of the obesogenic environment. Obesity is defined as a person having a BMI of more than 25.

Nowadays, people are under the perception that during pregnancy one should not work at all and be on rest. This myth becomes popular because someone in there circle has undergone some problems and due to that were advised bed rest for a while. An active would-be-mother will give birth to, a healthy and active child. Pregnancy is a great time to start focusing on specific exercises prescribed for the period of maternity.  Your goal should be to stay active for 30 minutes every day. Walking is a good choice if you are new to exercise.

Being obese during pregnancy puts the mother in many problems like gestational Diabetes, preeclampsia, sleep apnea.

The postpartum period may be a critical time for long-term weight gain and the development of maternal obesity. Excess weight gain during pregnancy and persistent weight gain 1 year postpartum are strong predictors of becoming obese in few years.

What is the Effect of Obesity on Maternal Complications in Pregnancy?

1 – Maternal obesity increases the risk of complications during pregnancy.

2 – Maternal obesity is a risk factor for spontaneous abortion (for both spontaneous conceptions and conceptions achieved through assisted reproductive technology), as well as for unexplained stillbirth (intrauterine fetal demise).

3 – Obese women are at increased risk of complications at the time of labor and delivery. The rate of successful vaginal delivery decreases progressively as maternal BMI increases.

4 – In addition to an increased rate of operative delivery, obese women are also at increased risk of intraoperative complications, including increased infectious morbidity and thromboembolic events.

5 – There is also an increased risk of anaesthetic complications, such as failed intubation at the time of general endotracheal anaesthesia.

6 – Increased risk of miscarriage increases double fold with an overweight and obese individual in infertility treatment.

7 – Maternal obesity is known to be an important risk factor for gestational diabetes (GDM) with a number of large cohort studies reporting a three-fold increased risk compared to women with a healthy weight.

Conclusion

Being active and maintaining the weight and not falling prey to an obesogenic environment is the solution. Nutritious meals recommened by an expert dietician is always a better way to avoid future complications.

Consult Now