Did you know that pregnant women who are obese are at greater risk for stillbirth and other serious health complications? A new study, published by the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, shows that women who have unhealthy body mass indexes (BMIs) are more likely than women with normal BMIs to give birth after their due dates.Dr. Fiona C. Denison, of the University of Edinburgh, UK, and colleagues analyzed data from the Swedish Medical Birth Register on women who gave birth between 1998 and 2002.
"Maternal obesity poses a significant risk to maternal and fetal health during pregnancy, and our study confirms the findings of others that obesity is associated with significant complications including stillbirth, gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension and cesarean section," Denison's team concludes.
"If a healthy lifestyle including physical activity and healthy eating, which are more common in underweight women, were advocated more strongly for the obese obstetric population," they suggest, "then obstetric outcomes might be improved."
Learn more about pregnancy wellness, including nutrition and exercise by visiting the American Pregnancy Association.
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