There is a fine line between being obese and being overweight but the associated risks during pregnancy are almost the same for both. When you have a BMI (body mass index) – which is a measure of your weight in relation to your height – of 30 and above, you are said to be obese, but a person with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered to be overweight. Either way, it means that you weigh more than you should. Obesity is considered as a pregnancy risk and women need to be informed about the complications that are possible if they are overweight during pregnancy.

You may have been overweight before you got pregnant or your obesity could be due to excessive weight gain during pregnancy. Obesity, at any time in your life, is associated with various health risks. It increases your risk of suffering from heart disease, stroke, diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure) and arthritis. Eating disorders and depression occur quite often. Obesity may be a cause for infertility. Additional problems can arise, relating to you and your baby, once you do become pregnant.

Risks of Being Overweight/Obese During Pregnancy

So what are the risks of being overweight or obese during pregnancy?
Excess weight can cause many problems for you and your baby.

Risks for the Baby

• Recent studies have shown that obese mothers are more likely to give birth to babies with congenital heart defects and this risk increases in direct proportion to the level of obesity.
• Growth abnormalities in the baby.
• Obesity increases the risk of giving birth to a baby with neural tube defects such as spina bifida, cleft lip and cleft palate. Taking folic acid supplements may not be enough to prevent this.
• Big baby, often causing difficulty during labor and delivery.
• Birth injuries.
• Stillbirths.
• Increased chances of suffering from childhood obesity.
• Children are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life
• Preterm delivery.

Risks for the Mother

• Gestational diabetes.
• Gestational hypertension
• Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.
• Higher rate of early miscarriage.
• Increased risk of thromboembolism (blood clots).
• Difficult delivery.
• More chances of undergoing a Cesarean section.
• Post-operative complications.
• Postpartum infection.
• Obesity is associated with decreased incidence of breastfeeding.

Prevention of Obesity during Pregnancy

Pre-pregnancy counseling is very important to emphasize the risks of obesity during pregnancy. The need for vitamin and mineral supplements, including folic acid should be explained and screening done for hypertension and diabetes.

If you are planning a pregnancy and are overweight, it would be better for you and your baby if you try and lose weight before conception. In the pre-pregnancy stage you can try different measures for losing weight such as diet control and vigorous exercise.

There is no scope for dieting once you conceive and you will be allowed only moderate exercises such as walking or swimming once you do get pregnant. Remember, even if you are overweight or obese a certain amount of weight gain is mandatory during the nine months of pregnancy. With a healthy diet and moderate exercise you can prevent excessive weight gain during pregnancy.