Obese Pregnant Women
New research reveals that overweight or obese pregnant women who have elevated blood sugar level face more complication risks as compared to normal weight pregnant women. They are prone to higher risk than those with normal blood sugar despite being overweight. Women who have slightly elevated blood sugar and overweight as well as those who are obese and have gestational diabetes are more likely to deliver large babies.
According to a study conducted on more than 23,000 women from nine different countries, women who have large babies are at risk of causing injury to the baby during vaginal delivery. The researchers also found out that babies of such women tend to have higher insulin and lower blood sugar levels.
From this study, researchers have drawn the conclusion that every pregnant woman needs a dietician prescription for healthy eating plan during pregnancy. Factors such as metabolism, nutrition and weight all have an impact on the pregnant woman as well as the baby.
Rise of obesity in pregnancy
In most of the developed countries, the instances of obesity are on the rise which can increase maternal fetal morbidity. There are higher risks of cesarean deliveries with higher incidence of anesthetic and post operative complications for obese pregnant women. There are chances of perinatal mortality with increased maternal obesity and the baby might even develop obesity. Apart from this, the cost of prenatal and postnatal care is higher for overweight mothers as their babies require more neonatal intensive care than other babies from normal weight mothers.
Such problems can be minimized if there is initial preconception counseling, proper monitoring of weight, careful prenatal management and long term follow up. These can drastically minimize the economic and social consequences for pregnancies of overweight women.
Maternal morbidity
Carbohydrate intolerance is more prevalent in obese women both at the non pregnant state and during pregnancy. In obese pregnant women, the concentrations of post absorptive plasma insulin are higher than normal weight pregnant women. To maintain the normoglycemia level insulin secretion is increased in many obese women. In the eventuality of gestational diabetes occurring, other factors are sought to find out the identifiable risk factor. Obese pregnant women are screened for gestational diabetes early on for efficient management.
Insulin treatment for gestational diabetes in obese pregnant women does not in any way increase the long term adiposity in the baby or maternal weight gain during pregnancy. Obese pregnant women have to watch out for hypertensive disorders as well as this is more prevalent in obese pregnancies. The incidence of hypertension and preeclampsia is significantly higher in obese women. The regional distribution of fat may modulate the risk of cardiovascular disease in obese pregnancies. In the case of obese pregnant women, there is a higher risk of thromboembolic disorders and urinary tract infections.
Delivery complications in obese pregnant women
In this case, being too lean and overweight leads to higher risk of preterm birth. A recent study postulates that premature delivery is heightened in nulliparous women. Obesity is however not a significant risk factor for premature delivery in parous women. However, the comparison is more between obese pregnant women and lean women as both are at risk of premature deliveries. The study also points out that, despite the similar percentage of instrumental deliveries and duration of labor, there is higher induction of labor in obese pregnant women as opposed to normal weight women.
As far as caesarean deliveries are concerned, the rate is consistently higher in obese pregnant women. This is accounted because of the prepartum complications which arises in obsess women. There are many risk factors such as, perioperative total operative time, endometritis, blood loss, fetal distress and stagnation of induced labor in obese pregnant women.
Long term complications in obese pregnant women
Obese mothers tend to experience urinary symptoms such as urgency and incontinence after delivery. This is worsened by the excessive weight gain during pregnancy which causes sustained weight retention. In addition, infants born to obese mothers are at a higher risk of being overweight than infants born to normal weight mothers by the 12th month. These infants are also likely to become obese as they grow older. Such infants are predisposed to obesity during childhood, especially if their mothers had diabetes complications during the course of pregnancy.
Likewise, infant morbidity is more prevalent in babies whose mothers had hypertensive complications. Babies whose mothers developed preeclampsia during pregnancy have higher diastolic blood pressure by the age of 6 years. Obese women tend to pass on genetic factors to their babies which results in the development of obesity in the child with the growing years. This clearly suggests that there is a relation between maternal obesity and childhood obesity of the infant.
Therefore, it is clear that obese women are at very high risk for developing complications during pregnancy and post pregnancy. Obesity leads to a major cause of fetal complications as well. Doctors and researchers are of the view that attempts must be made to encourage weight loss during pregnancy in women of child bearing age. The appropriate measures of multi-disciplinary management can certainly minimize the consequences of obesity on maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality in the long run.
Keep Yourself and Your New Baby Healthy, Naturally!
After a baby is delivered, it is important that new moms maintain their physical and psychological health, as well as that of their newborn.
Addressing the health of mothers includes psychological issues surrounding mood, stress and relaxation, as well as physical areas such as healing, breast-feeding and energy levels. Baby’s health issues include sleep and relaxation, cradle-cap, teething and much more. Learn how to keep yourself and your new baby healthy and happy with remedies for Mom and Baby at Native Remedies!
About the author: Alia Haley is a blogger by profession. She loves writing on technology and autos. Beside this she is fond of cars and fancy dresses.Recently an article on Menopause symptoms attracted her attention. These days she is busy in writing an article on small bathroom design ideas.