Obesity is defined as high amounts of fat in your body. It is linked to fertility issues and complications during pregnancy and delivery. According to a gynecologist in Airoli, obesity elevates the risk of gestational diabetes, hypertension, and many such health concerns. That’s not all. Learn more about obesity and how it affects your fertility in this blog.
What is Obesity?
Experts use Body Mass Index (BMI) to measure body fat. It calculates the estimated fat based on your height, weight, and age. A BMI of 25-29.9 is considered overweight. If your BMI is 30 or higher, you fall into the obese category. While it’s normal to gain a few kilos a year, if your weight increases drastically within months, there could be an underlying problem.
How does obesity Affect Pregnancy?
Obese women are less likely to conceive easily because of the disrupted ovulation cycle. You may not ovulate regularly, making it harder to time intercourse. This, in turn, makes pregnancy less likely. Not only that, but a higher BMI can make it difficult for women to conceive through Assisted Reproductive Technology, such as IVF.
How It Affects Mothers
Obesity makes women prone to developing these conditions:
Gestational Diabetes: It refers to the diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes can increase the baby’s weight, making c-section delivery more likely.
Preeclampsia: It’s a serious medical complication of pregnancy. Preeclampsia can spike your blood pressure and lead to organ damage, particularly kidney damage, if left untreated. Obesity increases the risk of preeclampsia, which can eventually lead to eclampsia (seizures).
Sleep Apnea: Sleep apnea may cause short pauses in breathing during sleep. This can lead to exhaustion and other medical issues.
Higher Risk of Cesarean Delivery: Obesity also puts you at a greater risk of requiring a C-section delivery, which comes with a prolonged recovery period and other complications.
How It Affects the Baby
Obesity isn’t only a concern for mothers, but it can also affect your baby’s health. Here are some common challenges that maternal obesity poses for babies.
Birth Defects: Babies born to obese moms can have birth defects, like spina bifida, a medical condition in which the baby’s neural tube doesn’t form properly.
Large Baby: The medical term for a large baby is macrosomia. Obesity can increase your baby’s birth weight, making delivery more complicated for the mother. You may need a C-section delivery, as vaginal delivery can cause birth injuries in the baby.
Premature Delivery or Stillbirth: Obesity is linked to an increased risk of premature birth, i.e., delivery before 37 weeks of gestation. Preemies are not fully developed and may require medical support for survival. These women are also more likely to experience stillbirth (the death of the baby in the uterus).
Childhood Problems: Babies born to obese mothers are more likely to have type 2 diabetes and obesity compared to normal mothers.Visit the nearest maternity center in Airoli and seek immediate treatment for obesity. The doctor may observe your pregnancy closely and offer necessary medical support to ensure a safe pregnancy and childbirth experience.
