Obese pregnant women risking lives of their babies--study

Researchers from Teesside University, Durham and Newcastle Universities found that maternal obesity has doubled over last two decades with one in six seriously overweight mothers facing health risks.

More than 100,000 babies a year are at risk of death, deformity or serious health problems because of a surge in obesity among pregnant women, reports the Daily Mail.

Dr. Nicola Heslehurst, lead researcher and a health scientist at Teesside University, said, “We were really surprised to discover such high levels of obesity in such a young age group. A lot of women get pregnant without thinking of the consequences of being obese while pregnant.

“Maternity services in many areas are struggling because of midwife shortages and treating an obese pregnant mum adds to the burden of doctors and midwives.”

600,000 pregnant women studied
The study, the first long term investigation into obesity in pregnancy, looked at more than 600,000 women who gave birth at 38 hospitals.

Researchers found that obese mothers are four to five times greater risk of maternal death than those who are normal weight and same holds true for babies.

The research showed that being overweight increases the likelihood of falling prey to cardiac disease, diabetes and pre-eclampsia, and can be a contributing factor in stillbirth, congenital anomalies and premature birth.

In fact, more than half of the mothers who die in pregnancy or childbirth are obese or overweight, the researchers said.

The study also found wide regional differences for maternal obesity, ranging from 13 percent in London to 22 percent in West Midlands.

The present study findings are published in the latest issue of the 'International Journal of Obesity.'

Need for obesity training in pregnant women
Recently, a report published by the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries said that more than 295 women who died in between 2003 and 2005 were suffering from obesity.

Researchers feel that the lack of weight management services and weight gain guidance have made it difficult for doctors and midwives to discuss obesity with pregnant women.

“Mothers were being told they were putting their babies at risk and were then left to deal with it themselves, largely due to a lack of national guidelines for this type of advice and support for women,” added Heslehurst.

“Midwives seek to build up a good relationship with women and they struggle to know how to initiate discussion with them about their weight as it is such a sensitive issue,” says Dr. Heslehurst.

“Once obese women become pregnant there are still things they can do to minimise the potential for complications for themselves and their babies, such as healthy eating and moderate levels of physical activity,” he concluded.