Obesity is a risk at any age and to both men and women – it can increase the risk of a number of health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes and stroke. But how does it affect you if you’re pregnant? And are there risks attached to your baby if you are obese whilst carrying your child? There could be possible complications to your unborn baby if you’re an unhealthy weight, so you should endeavour to do what you can to maintain a healthy weight and diet throughout your pregnancy and beyond. Your BMI, or Body Mass Index, is the best way to decipher how unhealthy your weight is – this is calculated using your height and weight. If your BMI is under 18.5, you are classified as underweight. 18.5 to 24.9 is a normal weight, 25 to 29.9 is overweight, and over 30 is classed as obese. If your BMI is over 40, you are extremely obese and at risk of many health worries. If you’re trying to get pregnant then being obese could affect your fertility, particularly for women undergoing IVF treatment – this could be something to discuss with your GP.
Being obese during your pregnancy increases the risk of a number of complications, such as infection, gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. Obese women have been found to be at an increased risk of thrombosis as well, which is where blood clots form inside a blood vessel – it’s an extremely dangerous condition and could be fatal in certain cases. Obesity can also cause obstructive sleep apnea, which could be quite serious as well – this is a condition where your breathing during sleep stops and starts, and pregnancy has been known to make this worse. Studies suggest that obesity increases the risk of an overdue pregnancy, as well as problems during labour – it might mean that you aren’t able to use certain types of pain relief as well, such as an epidural block. Lastly, obesity has been known to increase the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth.
Women who are obese increase their risk of problems for their baby as well, such as macrosomia which means your baby would be significantly larger than average and have more body fat. Research has shown that as the birth weight increases so does the risk of obesity in childhood. Your child could be at risk of some defects and developmental problems as well, such as issues with the heart or brain, and the spinal cord. There are ways you can make lifestyle changes to accommodate your pregnancy and ensure that you stay healthy throughout, both for your own sake and your baby’s. The best way to achieve this is to schedule a preconception appointment if you are obese and considering getting pregnant. They will be able to help you create a better diet plan and help you make the changes you need to increase your chance of a successful conception. As with any weight loss plan, what you eat and how much exercise you do is vital. You’ll need to do more in terms of staying fit and active, and cut down on your fatty, sugary and salty foods. Not only will these changes help you to keep your baby healthy and ensure that they aren’t at risk of any developmental problems, but it will also improve your own health too. During your pregnancy, you need to make choices that benefit both you and your baby – your weight is one such factor that requires a lot more thought and consideration than when it was just your health at stake.
Comments are closed.