Overweight and Pregnant

Being overweight and pregnant can raise concerns about the impact on both the mother’s health and the baby’s well-being. While it is true that a higher body mass index (BMI) can increase the likelihood of complications during pregnancy, it does not mean that a healthy pregnancy is impossible. It is important for overweight women to be aware of the potential risks and challenges they may face, such as gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, or difficulties during labor.

However, with proper medical care, lifestyle adjustments, and support from healthcare professionals, it is possible to navigate these challenges and have a healthy pregnancy. Maintaining a balanced diet, engaging in regular physical activity (as advised by healthcare providers), and attending regular prenatal check-ups are crucial for managing weight and ensuring the best possible outcomes for both the mother and the baby.

Many overweight women carry an illusion that with their weight they cannot have a healthy pregnancy. Well there’s no denying to the fact that you might face some complications with a raised Body Mass Index (BMI). But it doesn’t mean you cannot enjoy a healthy pregnancy. Your weight may not have any effect at all neither on your pregnancy, not on your baby’s birth.

It is not necessary that you’ll face complications due to your overweight, but it would be helpful to be aware of them. There are many factors which may be problematic in your pregnancy such as your age, family, lifestyle etc. But BMI plays a significant role over here as the higher your BMI is, the greater are your chances of having a complication during pregnancy.

What are the risks of being overweight and pregnant:

• Gestational diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Pre- eclampsia, happens when there’s a problem with the placenta.
• Labour starting too soon
• Raises the chances of your pregnancy getting past the due date, your labour might get induced by this.

Having a BMI of 30 or above at the time of birth giving, you are more likely to have:

• A caesarean section
• An assisted birth
• Heavy bleeding post delivery
• Likely to have a wound infection if you have gone through a caesarean section
• A blood clot in a deep vein of your leg or in your lung

In case you are overweight or obese during pregnancy, you are likely to have a large baby called macrosomia. Also, it becomes difficult for the doctors to assess accurately the baby’s growth if you carry extra weight around your middle. Therefore, women having a BMI of over 40 during pregnancy are offered extra ultrasound scans to ensure accurate growth of the baby.

Also mother’s obesity may cause various defects in the baby. These defects could affect a baby’s brain and spinal cord (neural tube defects), heart or abdominal wall. But you can protect your baby against the neural tube defects by taking 5 mg of folic acid every day during your first trimester.

Steps to have a Healthy Pregnancy:

Eating healthy and exercising regularly are the best ways to protect your baby’s well-being and reduce the chances of complications. Dieting would help to shed extra weight. But if you are suffering from nausea, it would be hard to enjoy a well-balanced diet. Just focus on being hydrated, and eat small and nutritious meals. Prefer fruits and vegetables, wholegrain over starchy options.

Keep taking folic acid for the first twelve weeks of pregnancy as it will help your baby’s nervous system to develop normally. Also, take a daily supplement of 10 mg of Vitamin D (if your BMI is more than 30), it will help your baby’s bones and teeth to develop strongly. Exercising daily is one of the most effective ways to manage your weight as it will lower down the risk of giving birth to a large baby, prefer brisk walking or swimming.