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Congenital Abnormalities and Obesity

There is abundant evidence that obesity has risks during pregnancy. These include a higher incidence of developing complications, such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, large baby and complications during labor and birth, including c section. A new study suggests there may be additional and more long lasting risks. According to research conducted in the UK, women who are classified as obese have a higher incidence of congenital abnormalities compared with women of normal weight. The research involved analyzing articles of observational studies from nearly 2,000 sources. The analysis showed women with a BMI over 30 had double the risk of … Continue reading →

Pregnancy After Weight Loss Surgery

According to the National Association for Weight Loss Surgery, approximately 100,000 women undergo surgery each year. Some of these women will go on to conceive and have healthy pregnancies. If you have had, or are considering weight loss surgery, there are a few things you should know. Most doctors recommend waiting at least 18 months after surgery before getting pregnant. This allows time for your weight to stabilize after the surgery. Getting pregnant too soon can result in malnutrition of the fetus, which is a serious complication. If you have had fertility issues that are related to weight, you may … Continue reading →

The Link Between Recurrent Miscarrage and Obesity

Researchers in the UK have determined a link between obesity and recurrent miscarriage. The study was conducted at St. Mary’s Hospital in London and published in the British Journal of Medicine. Researchers followed a group of women who had suffered at least one miscarriage in the past ten years. The women were followed during their next pregnancy for this study. The women were divided into groups for the study: underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese. To determine obesity, the weight of the participants and their body mass index were used. The body mass index is a measure that uses the … Continue reading →

A New Risk Factor Related to Obesity in Pregnancy

There are a few known risk factors related to obesity in pregnancy. Past studies have shown that obesity results in an increased risk of complications in pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes. There is also an increased chance the mother will need a c section. Researchers in the UK have found another risk factor. In a study conducted by the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit found obese women had a 165% higher risk of developing blood clots in the lungs than women who are not obese. This condition, also known as antenatal pulmonary embolism is a large contributor to maternal … Continue reading →

The Effects of Obesity in Pregnancy

Obesity is a health risk, before, during and after pregnancy. According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, obesity during pregnancy carries several risks for the mother and baby. For this reason, it is recommended that women control their weight prior to pregnancy and maintain a healthy weight gain during pregnancy. During pregnancy, there are several negative effects of obesity. Obese women have a higher rate of miscarriage than women within a healthy weight range. Complications are more common in overweight women during pregnancy. These complications include gestational diabetes and pre eclampsia. Complications are more common during delivery for … Continue reading →

Gestational Diabetes and the Family Link

Did you know that women who have a family history of diabetes have a higher chance of developing gestational diabetes during their pregnancy? According to a new study, the risks are even higher if that family member is a sibling, as opposed to a parent. Gestational diabetes, which is usually diagnosed in the second half of pregnancy, affects about three percent of all pregnant women. It causes higher than normal blood sugar levels, which can lead to your baby developing jaundice, gaining too much weight, and/or having low blood sugar (due to the sudden drop in sugars once she is … Continue reading →

Lose the Weight Before You Conceive

A new study shows that obese women are more likely to retain some of their pregnancy weight gain postpartum. Researchers from the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research studied 1,700 obese women that gave birth between 2000 and 2005. Seventy percent of them exceeded the suggested weight gain for their weight category; those who surpassed this weight limit by 15 pounds or more had a more difficult time losing the weight after they had their babies (over an 18 month period). Losing weight isn’t about temporarily skipping the dessert table or making a few extra trips to the gym until … Continue reading →