Obesity is always a problem and more seriously during Pregnancy. It can cause complications for the mother and the baby. Chances of having complications during Pregnancy as well as delivery is more if the mother is overweight. There are things that you can follow before and during Pregnancy to help you in delivering a healthy baby.
Overweight and BMI
Being overweight is based on the pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI) where BMI is calculated based on the weight and height of a person. Overweight is due to the excess body weight coming out of the muscles, bone, fat and the water in your body.
Being overweight means your BMI falls between 25 and 30 before Pregnancy. The BMI of an Obese person will be 30 or more before Pregnancy. The amount of Body Fat is the measurement of Obesity. If it is more than what is normal, then one is obese.
Pregnancy Complications due to Obesity and Overweight
If you are overweight or obese during Pregnancy, you are more likely to have problems than a woman with a healthy weight in getting Pregnant. This is called infertility. Infertility is when you are unable to get conceived after one year of unprotected sex.
Many women need special medical treatment to help then get pregnant, which is called the Fertility Treatment. Obesity can affect certain types of Fertility Treatments known as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
IVF is a process where an egg and sperm are combined in a lab to create an Embryo (a Fertilized Egg) which is then put in the uterus. Women having higher BMI are less likely to get Pregnant with IVF.
Being obese can have difficulties with medical checkups like Ultrasound Scanning during Pregnancy. It will be difficult to see the baby using Ultrasound and also difficult to check the baby’s heart beat during labor.
Being overweight and/or obese during Pregnancy can have the following complications.
- High Blood Pressure, Preeclampsia and Blood Clotting
- Gestational Diabetes
- Cesarean Birth (C-Section)
- Miscarriage or Stillbirth
- Infections during Pregnancy
- Sleep Disorder called Sleep Apnea
- Blood Clot called Venous Thromboembolism
- Induced Labor
- Problems in breastfeeding
- Blockage of the passage of baby through the Pelvis
Problems for the baby
Being obese and/or overweight can cause problems for the baby as well – like.
- Premature Birth
- Birth Defects
- Macrosomia (also called Large For Gestational Age or LGA)
- Gestational Diabetes can cause problems in Breathing, low Glucose Levels and Jaundice to the baby
Before Pregnancy, get a preconception checkup and during Pregnancy take proper steps to ensure normal delivery and a healthy baby.
Disclaimer
I have only compiled and reproduced the above on public interest. Source of information and Credit: March of Dimes
Also read: Obesity and Pregnancy – Know your risks
