Overweight Mothers

An expectant mother with a body mass index of 30 or higher (calculated by dividing weight by height) may have increased risk for pregnancy complications including the following:

• Gestational diabetes
• Blood clots
• Infections due to an impaired immune system
• Pregnancy loss through miscarriage or stillbirth
• Preeclampsia

Being overweight also raises the risk of complications such as preterm delivery and the need to induce labor or perform a cesarean section.If you’re overweight, your baby is also at risk for:

• Birth defects, including neural tube defects, which affect the brain and spine
• Abnormally high birth weight, which can cause complications during labor and delivery
• Health problems later in life including obesity, diabetes and heart disease

Caring for Overweight Mothers

Overweight mothers are given guidance on diet and exercise. We’ll track your weight gain during pregnancy and treat any complications that may arise.