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A Healthy Beginning for PregnancyObesity is an especially critical issue for women of childbearing age, says Michael Greene, MD, director of obstetrics at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. "Obesity is associated with many complications, because it greatly increases a woman's risk of developing high blood sugar and diabetes—either before they get pregnant or during their pregnancy," he tells WebMD. When a fetus is exposed to the mother's high blood sugar early on—before 13 weeks old—there is a serious risk of birth defects. "A mother's obesity and uncontrolled blood sugar puts her baby at high risk for a variety of congenital malformations, including defects of the brain and spinal cord," Greene explains. And babies of mothers who have diabetes are likely to grow large in size, fed by excess sugar that makes its way into the placenta. "These large babies can be difficult to deliver vaginally, and may require cesarean section," Greene says. Obesity, high blood pressure—as well as asthma—also put a mother at high risk for developing preeclampsia, Greene tells WebMD. This condition prevents the placenta from receiving enough blood, which can cause the baby to be small. These babies are often born prematurely, which carries its own complications, like learning disabilities. The babies are also at risk for birth defects and death, he adds.
SOURCES: Connie Graves, MD, director of maternal-fetal medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tenn. Michael Greene, MD, director of obstetrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. WebMD Medical Reference provided in collaboration with The Cleveland Clinic: "Your Baby's Growth and Development Months 1 to 9," "Diabetes and Pregnancy," "Prenatal Vitamins," "Considering Pregnancy," "Pregnant with Asthma," "Smoking During Pregnancy," "Depression," "Taking Medicine During Pregnancy," "Preeclampsia and Eclampsia," "Eating Right while Pregnant," "Is it Safe to Get Vaccinations?" CDC Office of Oral Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. WebMD Medical Reference: "Preparing for Pregnancy" and "Ready or Not: First Trimester" from "The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby." WebMD Medical News: "ACE Inhibitors May Boost Birth Defects"; "Pregnancy Antidepressants: Baby Risk."
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