Obesity and Pregnancy

PRE-PREGNANCY OBESITY AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE BABY

The appropriate weight of both mother and father before pregnancy affects the health and weight of the baby. In terms of maternal and infant health, it is important to start pregnancy with a normal body weight and not to increase body weight below or above the recommended weight during pregnancy.

Structural disorders such as spinabifida, lack of hands, feet or fingers, congenital abnormalities of the heart, diaphragmatic hernia, and congenital abnormalities of the heart have been found to be more common in infants of mothers who were obese before pregnancy compared to infants of non-obese mothers. In addition, women who are obese are more likely to develop fertility problems and complications during pregnancy. Diabetes and hypertension are more common during pregnancy. Obese mothers have insufficient milk and breastfeed with difficulty. The weight gained during pregnancy becomes permanent. The risk of delivering a large or low-weight baby is high. Cesarean section or premature birth is more common.

Does obesity before and during pregnancy affect the health of the child?

Possible complications associated with obesity:

Gestational diabetes Gestational hypertension (6-fold risk)
Preeclampsia (risk 3-8 times)
Cesarean section and premature birth Congenital abnormalities (2-fold risk)
Macrosomia (large baby) (3 times the risk) or low birth weight babies

Difficulties in Postpartum Weight Control:

Especially in obese women who start pregnancy obese, the weight gained during pregnancy may be permanent.
Weight gain more than recommended during pregnancy may make it difficult to return to ideal body weight after delivery.
It may lead to increased visceral and abdominal (waist circumference) fat mass.

Decreased breastfeeding effectiveness:

Women who start pregnancy with a BMI > 25 kg/m2 may have breastfeeding difficulties or inadequate milk secretion due to low prolactin levels.

Studies on the genetics of obesity generally emphasize that body mass index (BMI) can be transmitted genetically. Many studies on the risk of being obese show that obese children often have obese parents. It is important that the expectant mother and father have an ideal weight. Being overweight or underweight affects the future weight of the baby and the risk of chronic diseases.

What should be the appropriate weight gain during pregnancy?

The table below shows the relationship between body mass index (BMI) at the start of pregnancy and weight gain at the end of pregnancy.