Obesity is defined as a body mass index of thirty or greater, or if your weight is fifty or more percent above your ideal body weight. Almost seventeen percent (1 in 6) of the population is medically obese, of which forty percent are young.
Obesity during pregnancy increases the risk of many complications. Unfortunately these complications can affect both the mother and the growing baby. One the plus side, there seems to be a reduced incidence of iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy for obese mothers during pregnancy.
Many researchers believe that obesity is responsible for the high first time cesarean section delivery rate of 20 - 25 percent (1 in 4 - 5). It has been suggested that if all women were within normal weight ranges for their height and age the first time cesarean rate would be about twelve percent (3 in 25) and the repeat rate three percent (1 in 33). In fact statistics suggest that incidence of cesarean section among women who are medically obese before getting pregnant is sixty percent higher than among women of average weight.
If you are already pregnant an obstetrician is recommended to manage your pregnancy. But if you are still planning your pregnancy, many doctors suggest that trying to achieve a normal weight prior to conception will greatly reduce the risk of complications during pregnancy and make both you and your unborn baby healthier.
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