Obesity and Pregnancy Risks
All the recent news about obesity and health seems to support what we corpulent ones already intuitively know: that being overweight just isn't healthy. And, now the word is that obesity is not only unhealthy for pregnant women, it's not a good thing for their babies, either.
Overweight women are at higher risk for infertility, high blood pressure, strokes, and heart attacks. And, in pregnancy, high blood pressure, blood clots, and gestational diabetes risks are increased. Rapid weight gain during pregnancy can cause large babies (fetal macrosomia), and it increases the risks of cesarean section. The latest news on obesity and pregnancy, based on a position paper from the Public Affairs Committee of the Teratology Society is that obese women have twice the risk of having infants with neural tube defects.
The authors suggest that preconceptual counseling for obese women should include a discussion that includes the risks of obesity along with smoking, drinking alcohol, and an insufficient intake of folic acid. Women should be informed of the risks that their obesity poses to their unborn children, and they should be supported with nutritional counseling and exercise programs that encourage them to lose weight before they become pregnant.
Dieting to lose weight during pregnancy is not healthy; it's best to shed that avoirdupois and develop a healthy lifestyle prior to conception. Easier said than done, I know, but it's worth it.
RW, MD
Related Topics: Eating For Two: Pregnancy Nutrition for Expectant Moms, (WebMD Video) Weight Loss 101: Snacking Secrets
Overweight women are at higher risk for infertility, high blood pressure, strokes, and heart attacks. And, in pregnancy, high blood pressure, blood clots, and gestational diabetes risks are increased. Rapid weight gain during pregnancy can cause large babies (fetal macrosomia), and it increases the risks of cesarean section. The latest news on obesity and pregnancy, based on a position paper from the Public Affairs Committee of the Teratology Society is that obese women have twice the risk of having infants with neural tube defects.
The authors suggest that preconceptual counseling for obese women should include a discussion that includes the risks of obesity along with smoking, drinking alcohol, and an insufficient intake of folic acid. Women should be informed of the risks that their obesity poses to their unborn children, and they should be supported with nutritional counseling and exercise programs that encourage them to lose weight before they become pregnant.
Dieting to lose weight during pregnancy is not healthy; it's best to shed that avoirdupois and develop a healthy lifestyle prior to conception. Easier said than done, I know, but it's worth it.
RW, MD
Related Topics: Eating For Two: Pregnancy Nutrition for Expectant Moms, (WebMD Video) Weight Loss 101: Snacking Secrets
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17 Comments:
I think there are other considerations that affect whether obesity is a problem during pregnancy.
I was obese when I became pregnant with my first child. I weighed 228# and am 5'8". I gained nearly 60# when I was pregnant and ended up at 285#. I didn't have any medical problems except for a good case of pitting edema that came on in the last month of my pregnancy. My son was born at 7#10oz and was perfectly healthy. We did induce the pregnancy when he was a week late, hadn't dropped, and I was miserable with the swelling.
I lost all but 14# of the pregnancy weight gain within the first two weeks. It appears to have been mostly water weight.
So, while being obese is not generally a good thing. It does not always mean you are putting your pregnancy at risk. Of course, I think it helps that despite being overweight, I participated in recreational/competitive sports prior to becoming pregnant. I found exercise during pregnancy difficult because it kept stretching my pelvic floor and the swelling at the end made it uncomfortable. But I did do recreational biking and some walking for as long as I could.
My conclusion: Exercise has a huge impact on pregnancy - both prior and during. Being obese alone does not necessarily mean you are at risk for anything.
My story is the same as the other woman who posted .. I am 5'9" with approximately the same weight stats. My pregnancy was healthy, no high BP or any other issues mentioned in the article - a bit of swelling but nothing serious.
I also realize it's not healthy to be obese regardless. While my pregnancy was a good experience, I believe having an exercise routine prior to getting pregnant was the key for me not having any cramps and just my general well-being.
Oh yes! Water .. dranks about 12 glasses a day along with a daily spinach salad. I lost all of my baby weight (and then some) within a month of giving birth and all has been fine since.
i was 220 with my 1st baby and gained about 45lbs. the baby was fine but i was a week and half overdue he came out 9lbs 7oz and we had to induce because of the lateness but he was ok. i lost all my weight and then some in two weeks but this is second and i weighed the same but gained the first 20lbs quick but i have cramps all the time they say its normal but it doesn't feel that way i guess im just worring for nothing
there was so much concern when I became pregnant because I too was obese. I weighed 238 pounds, and only gained 35 pounds during the pregnancy. I had no problems whatsoever. I was not diabetic, or had hypertension. Thankfully, I had a wonderful delivery naturally. My son weiged 7 lbs 8oz. I walked throughout the pregnancy and cut out the junk
I find it offensive that every website i've ben to to try and find a calotic intake for overweight women during pregnancy all say the same things. "Women should lose weight before pregnancy..etc etc.." Well that really doesn't help me now does it? LOL.
I was NOT overweight in my 1st pregnancy and I had preclampsia, swelling, rapid weight gain (not from eating cause I had morning sickness so bad) and it was awful.
Now I am overweight with baby #2 and am still having the same problems. Dr's say it is from the previous pregnancy. So me being overweight has NOTHING to do with my pregnancy complications.
Not saying that being overweight is a good thing. I just think people need to ge their facts straight and at least put unput in there that it can be safe for overweight women to be pregnant and to quit making it seem like we are jepordizing our babies. Oh and not to mention one website called us fatties. Yet again not good. Not happy.
Girls, I was almost afraid to read any comments after reading this article, I just new the comments would be full of negative feedback regarding being obese and pregnant. Thank you for the reassuring words. I also am considered obese ( 5'7 235# when I concieved) and I am in my 9th week. I am afraid I will have a ton of issues considering all the information I have read regarding weight gain during pregnancy. I walk whenever I can and I try to eat well allthough most foods do not appeal to me at this point. Thanks for the opinion of REAL WOMEN!
ladies,
you are not doctors- why are you telling people that being obese is just fine for expectant moms, just because you had no problems? I gained tons of weight while pregnant. Last time (#3) I started at 155 and delivered at 200. My baby was 9# 10 OZ, all carried in the front, as low as humanly possible. I could not walk or bend over at the end. I now have permanent arthritis of the back, with scoliosis and degenerative disk disease. Managing my pain has become a full time job. And do you think I can lift my son? No, I can't. He's huge and I am crippled. At least he is healthy- but how I wish I could have gained less weight!
Bottom line is, the docs have seen what excess weight can do to baby and mom, and they advise against it. Stop giving out bad advice to other moms just because you think someone said you were fat!
Compared to everyone else that has commented, I was/am REALLY obese. When I got pregnant with my son I weighed 285 at his birth I weighed 305. Not once did I have any problems during the pregnancy. My bloodpressure was always either 120/80 or 120/82. I never developed diabetes or any other problem. I was induced three times...yes, three. I never dilated, not at all. so, I ended up with a c-section. Everything was great with my son but I was dismissed early (Christmas time) and developed an infection from the c-section. Now thinking about doing it again, I felt good about the babies health and know that I will have a c-section but reading all this info scares the crap out of me!! Now I need to rethink my options. I am soon to be 36 so I feel like time is running out. Help!
help!!, i'am scared . i tried to get pregnant for 3 years, and nothing and when i was giving up wow surprise. finally i found out i was pregnant , but my happiness turned in to sadness when my doctor told me I was too fat and my bp was too high, 140.. i'am just six weeks and i feel really weird . i started to eat healthy drop the sweets and sodas. and i lost 4lb in one week. I'am 240 lb and my ht is 5'4" please!! i need to know if it is safe to lose some weight in the first trimester.
360# 5'7". m/c at 8 weeks.some say it was because of my weight. my doctor said it was nothing i did and not my fault at all. i have no diabetes. no high bloodpressure. or any other weight related ailments.
I am also 5'4" and weighed 240 when I first became pregnant. I am now at 42 weeks, and the only problems I have had is the diagnosis of gestastional diabetes. The best thing you can do if you are overweight is to have a healthy lifestyle. Eat healthy, exercise as best you can, and walk! Every pregnancy is different, my cousin is really skinny and she had a bunch of problems, so weight really isn't an indicator of whether you will have complications or not.
And btw, doctors don't know everything, there are plenty of natural remedies that can help with various problems. For example, to regulate blood sugar, taking cinnamon capsules help. Take what the "professionals" say with a grain of salt, one actually said I was killing my baby when I didn't want to take one of their stupid tests. Just hang in there and good luck with your experience!
To Everyone that made a comment. Yes DR's are the professionals but no one knows your body better than you. I just gave birth to my 2nd son and I too am overweight 5'4" 240 b4 pregnancy 283 at delivery gained 43 pounds no other problems. I am very active but still overweight I did a lot of swimming while pregnant and I feel that it was a great help. I had a c-section with both because I did not dialate to 10". All I can say is do what is best for you if your doctors advises weight loss then do what you can to lose the weight but remember you know your body best.
I'm 26 weigh 300lbs and I'm 5'6". My husband and I are trying to conceive. I've been diagnosed with PCOS and will start Clomid/Metformin in 1 month. The doctor said it will be fine, however the fertility nurse had a hissy fit and said these pills will do no good if I don't loose weight. Now I don't know what to do. It's hard for me. I've always been obese - it's not like I gained all this weight overnight and I don't know how to get rid of it. Oh well I guess we'll see what happens. Hopefully I have the luck that you ladies had.
I am 23 5ft6 and used to be 265. I went to the dr. to get back on birth control, because I am I married and have no children and I am wanting to wait to have children. The only thing that came out of my dr visit was a 2 hour long speech on how I was to fat, I was killing myself and that if I ever want to have kids I at least need to lose enough weight to be at 200 or there is a good chance that I would die during pregnancy and so would the baby. I was just responding because this doctor prescribed me the Metformin or whatever and all it did was make me sick. I ended up stoping taking it and went to see my family doctor. My family doctor prescribed me a medicine called adipex which is an appetite suppressant and with that and eating 40 carbs a day and drinking tons of water and exercise I am down to 221 in 4 months. I just wanted to post because the previous comment mentioned metformin and I just wanted to let them know that it made me very very sick, and once you start to take it make sure you eat w/ it or you get even sicker. Oh and I havent been back to that doctor and don't plan on it. It makes me sick how they and others can make you feel. They make you feel like they are so much better than you because they are thin, and look at your like your gross. I wish everyone on here a safe and happy pregnancy. :)
I am on my second baby. I am 10 weeks and I am obese too. My doc said that it does have some to do with why it was so hard for me to get pregnant. But still there are so many obese women out there giving birth to beautiful healthy babies. So i say don't worry about if you are obese no it is not healthy to be over weight but i know it is hard to loose the weight. I have tried allsorts of diets and findig it to be hard. It took me two years to get pregnant with my second child and my husband and i are extremely nervous about loosing it because the docs told us we could not have anymore. but we are happy and will take all the percautions and I will watch what i eat and try not to gain any excess or unnessasary weight. So just go out there eat healthier and be more active and you will be shocked to see what happens.
I too am scared... I'm 36 weigh 265 at 5'7 and am in my 1st trimester this is my 2nd child and i gained a tremendous amount of weight with my 1st but I'm doing my best to eat and think healthy as well as walking a mile a day. But how can I slim down in the 1st trimester without going to the excess?
This RW MD is full of information about obese people- but look at his picture. He has more chins than a chinese phone book himself. I am in my second pregnancy and I am obese by standards. I realize that it would be ideal if my weight was within normal limits but reality hits and it isn't. I am also an RN so I am very aware of the long term consequences of obesity. While I'm not thrilled about my weight I will not omit motherhood from my life/choices. I am taking every precaution I can while I am pregnant and I have one healthy child that I also carried while I was obese. It is hard to lose weight. Just because I can't lose weight doesn't mean I shouldn't have children. BTW every body is different I weigh 285 and had no troble getting pregnant once I tried- pregnant within 3 months. So it's not neccesarily the weight but the person's body/ and overall health. I know obese people who can run cicles around thin ones.
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