How Overweight Affects You and Your Baby?

If you start your pregnancy with overweight or with obesity, you are far from the only one. Did you know that 53% of women start their pregnancy too hard? And more than half of those women win more than the recommended amount during their pregnancy. Obesity during pregnancy can lead to a large number of unwanted complications for you and your little one. OBGY Diagnostics discuss the various complications of obesity during pregnancy and what you can do to maintain (or even lose) weight in a healthy way during pregnancy.

What is obesity considered to be?

Although the science of obesity may be changing, the current guidelines for obesity are having a body mass index (BMI) of 30% or more. (You can find your BMI by using an online calculator.) Within the obesity category, there are three levels of increased health risk with each increasing BMI:

• The lowest risk is a BMI of 30-34.9.
• Average risk is a BMI of 35.0-39.9.
• The greatest risk is a BMI of 40 or higher.

What are the complications for being overweight during pregnancy?

When discussing the complications of obesity during pregnancy, it is important to look at the effects for both you and the mother and baby. Although there is a chance that you can endure your entire pregnancy without any problems, it will be obese a much greater risk for the following:

• Gestational diabetes: diabetes first diagnosed during pregnancy. Women with gestational diabetes are considered to be at greater risk of developing diabetes in the future. Their children are also at greater risk of developing diabetes.
• Caesarean section: Although there are many factors that can lead to getting a c-section, overweight women and gestational diabetes women are likely to need it more often, either through planned surgery or an emergency.
• Pre-eclampsia: the higher your BMI, the greater the chance of high blood pressure occurring during or after pregnancy. It can lead to a condition called Eclampsia. This can cause epileptic seizures, kidney and liver failure and in rare cases stroke. Severe cases require emergency treatment to prevent these complications and your baby may need to be given early.
• Sleep apnea: A condition where a person stops breathing during short periods of sleep. Sleep apnea is more common in people with obesity. During pregnancy, sleep apnea can cause fatigue, high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, and heart and lung disease.

Complications for the baby

If the complications are not enough for you to worry about, being overweight can also result in a wealth of problems for your baby.

• Pregnancy loss: obese women have an increased risk of miscarriage compared to women with a healthy BMI.
• Birth defects: babies born to obese women have an increased risk of birth defects, such as heart defects and neural tube defects.
• Diagnostic test problems: If you have too much body fat, it may be difficult to see certain problems with the baby’s anatomy. Checking the baby’s heartbeat during delivery can also be more difficult if you are obese.
• Macrosomia: Or rather a larger than normal baby. This can increase the risk of injury during delivery for both the baby and the mother. Many babies with macrosomia are born via caesarean section and have a greater chance of becoming obese at a later age.
• Early deliveries: babies born before the 37th week of pregnancy. This can happen spontaneously or be medically caused by your medical professional. Premature babies are not as developed as babies born after 39 weeks and have an increased risk of health problems in the short and long term.
• Stillborn: The higher your BMI during pregnancy, the greater the risk of stillbirth.

Can I safely lose weight during pregnancy?

If you are considered obese and are thinking of becoming pregnant, losing even the smallest amount of weight can help your fertility and overall health. Even a drop of 5-7% body weight (around 10-20lbs) can improve your chances of getting pregnant and having a healthier pregnancy.

What if you have a surprise pregnancy, or were born earlier than you expected? It is still possible to lose weight in a healthy way during pregnancy. Your midwife can refer you to a nutritionist to get you on a nutrition plan that is good for you and the baby. A few things to keep in mind are:

Buy foods that are whole in fiber and protein. These foods are not only calorie efficient, but make you feel full longer. (As a bonus, a high-fiber diet also helps with the inevitable pregnancy assessment.)

If you are considered obese, it is considered safe to reduce your maintenance calories (the number of calories you need to take to maintain your current weight) by around 350 a day. You can manage your calorie intake using one of the many calorie-counting apps on the market. With these apps you can determine what your calories are for maintenance.

Try to be moderately active during your pregnancy. 60 minutes of intensive training 3 times a week, or 30 minutes of exercise on most days. If you cannot do everything at once, it is also good to break through the whole day. As long as you move!

Note: Before you start Any diet and training program, discuss what is safe and healthy with your Best Obstetrician in Lahore.

Playing an active role in a healthy pregnancy is the best decision you can make for yourself and your baby. At OBGY Diagnostics of Excellence we will guide you through this important but delicate subject with the care and sensitivity you deserve.

If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant and are concerned about how your obesity will affect you and your baby, make an appointment with our Clinic on telephone number (423) 516- 9602 or online.