The Impact of Maternal Obesity on Maternal and Fetal Health

Obesity in pregnancy has tripled in the past decade and the implications are significant for

women and their babies. Any pregnancy in an obese woman is high risk, requiring higher levels

of obstetric and pediatric support, with much greater health care costs. Obese women are

more likely to miscarry, to have still births and to have pregnancy complications.

Babies of obese mothers are likely to have heavier birth weights and impaired fetal

development

Being obese during pregnancy increases the risk of various pregnancy complications, including:

 Gestational diabetes. Women who are obese are more likely to have diabetes that

develops during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) than are women who have a normal

weight.

 Preeclampsia. Women who are obese are at increased risk of developing a pregnancy

complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another

organ system, often the kidneys (preeclampsia).

 Infection. Women who are obese during pregnancy are at increased risk of urinary tract

infections. Obesity also increases the risk of postpartum infection, whether the baby is

delivered vaginally or by C-section.

 Overdue pregnancy. Obesity increases the risk that pregnancy will continue beyond the

expected due date.

  Labor problems. Labor induction is more common in women who are obese. Obesity

can also interfere with the use of certain types of pain medication, such as an epidural

block.

 C-section. Obesity during pregnancy increases the likelihood of elective and emergency

C-sections. Obesity also increases the risk of C-section complications, such as wound

infections. Women who are obese are also less likely to have a successful vaginal

delivery after a C-section (VBAC).

 Pregnancy loss. Obesity increases the risk of miscarriage.

My Reaction

The increasing rate of maternal obesity provides a major challenge to our profession as a

midwife. The risk is very high that it gives negative results for both women and fetuses. Obesity

in pregnancy can also affect health later in life for both mother and child. For women, these

risks include heart disease and hypertension. Children have a risk of future obesity and heart

disease. Women and their offspring are at increased risk for diabetes. This maternal risk should

be given a worldwide attention on how to prevent and treat this epidemic. Nowadays with the

economic, technologic, and lifestyle changes have created many high-calorie food together with

decreased physical activity, in short we are eating more and moving less. Our government and

health organizations must cooperate and help each other to promote better health and

nutrition for every Filipino and most importantly to pregnant women to prevent such risks.
Reference

Meaghan A Leddy, Michael L Power, PhD, and Jay Schulkin, PhD. The Impact of Maternal
Obesity on Maternal and Fetal Health
https://www.babiesonline.com/articles/health/10riskfactors.asp

Department of Health Australia

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/Content/womens-health-
policy-toc~womens-health-policy-experiences~womens-health-policy-experiences-
reproductive~womens-health-policy-experiences-reproductive-maternal~womens-health-
policy-experiences-reproductive-maternal-preg
 Pregnant Mothers on Maternal Nutrition

All human beings need a balanced amount of nutrients for proper functioning of the body

system. Nutrition is a fundamental pillar of human life, health and development throughout the

entire life span. Proper food and good nutrition are essential for survival, physical growth,

mental development, performance and productivity, health and wellbeing. However, the

nutrition requirement varies with respect to age, gender and during physiological changes such

as pregnancy. Pregnancy is such a critical phase in a woman's life, when the expecting mother

needs optimal nutrients of superior qualities to support the developing fetus. Naturally, the

urge to eat more is experienced by nearly all pregnant women. Pregnancy is considered to be a

delightful experience for the expectant mother. Evidences manifested that adequate intake of

nutrition is a key component for individual’s health and well-being, particularly during

pregnancy. It is well documented that inadequate maternal nutrition results in increased risks

of short term consequences such as; Intra Uterine Growth Restriction (IUGR), low birth weight,

preterm birth, prenatal and infant mortality and morbidity. Moreover, excessive intake of

nutrients during pregnancy can lead to some pregnancy complications (such as, preeclampsia

and gestational diabetes, macrosomia, dystocia and higher prevalence of cesarean section). On

the other hand, as the long run outcomes, inadequate intake of nutrients were found to have
pathophysiologic or metabolic depict that will appear as disorders of child growth and

development as well as adult chronic disease after a long period of quiescence.

My reaction

What you eat during your pregnancy has a great impact on the long-term health prospects of

your child. Improper nutrition, especially early in the pregnancy stage of the mother may impair

fetal brain development and cause abnormalities in endocrine system, organ development and

the energy metabolism of your child.

Eating well during pregnancy is very important. The mother must also consider what she eats.

The ability of mother to provide nutrients and oxygen for her baby is very important for the

baby’s health and its survival. Failure in supplying the adequate amount of nutrients to meet

the nutritional demand can lead to fetal malnutrition.

Malnutrition is one of the most serious health problems affecting children and their mothers.

Undernourished mothers face greater risks during pregnancy and childbirth, and their children

set off on a weaker developmental path, both physically and mentally. Undernourished children

have lower resistance to infection and are more likely to die from common childhood ailments

as diarrhea diseases and respiratory infections.

Reference

Habtamu Fekadu, (2013) Wollega University, Ethiopia. Assessment of Knowledge of Pregnant

Mothers on Maternal Nutrition and Associated Factors in Guto Gida Woreda, East Wollega
Zone, Ethiopia
http://www.upmc.com/patients-visitors/education/nutrition/pages/nutrition-during-
pregnancy-building-a-healthy-baby.aspxDepartment of Health Australia
http://www.livestrong.com/article/368731-the-effects-of-poor-nutrition-on-a-fetus/

Janet C. King. The Risk of Maternal Nutritional Depletion and Poor Outcomes Increases in Early
or Closely Spaced Pregnancies
ALJOLYN B. TUGADE

BSM 3A