Obesity and Pregnancy

Woman wishing to become pregnant ought to be advice of the adverse affects of being overweight while carrying a fetus to full term. Many women when in the early stages of family planning are overweight. Some are underweight. Each physical condition presents challenges which must be addressed in order to provide the best possible environment to carry a baby in the womb.

As commonly known, both physical characteristics as well as behavior have an impact on an unborn child as he or she develops during the pregnancy. This not only includes weight, but height, general health, as well as lifestyle habits such as drinking and smoking.

Obesity’s Affect on Pregnancy

While it may not seem to have a substantial impact on a fetus’ development during the nine to ten month term over three trimesters, obesity can cause as much harm as smoking, drinking and drugs. Though some might be more severe than others, each has a direct impact on the life and development of the child in the womb.

Obese women should be informed of the risks associated with maternal obesity, be screened for gestational diabetes, and be assessed for the need for supplements of vitamins and minerals, including folate. Obese women should be advised to gain less weight than other women — 15 pounds compared to 25 to 35 for women who were normal weight before pregnancy.” –American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “Obesity in Pregnancy”, September 2005

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The Journal of the American Medical Association found the below correlations with obesity and birth defects:

• Risk of spina bifida is over two times higher for obese pregnant women, and the overall risk of neural tube defects is almost twice as high.
• Risk of cardiovascular defects is 30% higher.
• Risk of cleft palate and cleft lip, either singly or coupled, is approximately 20% higher.
• Risk of hydrocephaly (an abnormal buildup of fluid in the brain) is 60% higher.
• Limb reduction abnormalities are 30% higher.

Though the Journal used data compiled from different studies, it used the World Health Organization’s standard to define individuals with a BMI or body mass index of 25 to be overweight, while individuals with a BMI of 30 or over to be obese.

“Comparing the self-reports of actual and ideal weights, the average man weighs 15 pounds more than his ideal today, compared with 9 pounds in 1990. The average woman weighs 22 pounds more than her ideal today, compared with 13 pounds in 1990. ” –Gallup’s Annual Health and Healthcare Survey, 2011

Fertility Prediction

Women who are obese might find that using common fertility prediction kits results in inaccurate readings. Most will be realized after several failed attempts to conceive. This is, in part, because of physical attraction and because of physical condition, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found in a 2008 study. In other words, women who are obese are less attractive in the eyes of their partner and obesity also is thought to have an adverse affect on fertility prediction.

OV-Watch actually can be used by obese women to determine when the are not in their fertile window or the absence of ovulation due to PCOS or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome–a condition common to obese women. However, obese women should always consult their doctor before trying to conceive to learn of possible health risks that might occur to herself and her baby.