Being overweight or obese during pregnancy can cause several complications. It puts the mother at risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure and may even lead to several serious health problems for the newborn. According to a new study, The BMJ medical journal, mother's obesity can out the foetus at the risk of developing major birth defects such as malformations of the heart and genitals.
Obesity can increase the risk of heart or genital birth defects in the newborn
They collected information about children born with major birth defects and compared it to the BMI of the mothers at the time of birth. It was noted that more than 43,500 children suffered serious malformations and the most common one was a heart defect. The results of the study showed that for babies born to mothers with normal weight as well as those who were underweight, the rate of congenital malformation was about 3.4%. The risk rose to 3.5% for children of overweight women, 3.8% for obese ones, 4.2% in the severely obese category and 4.7% for morbidly obese mothers. Interestingly, it was also seen that the risk was higher for boys than for girls.These findings took into consideration potential risk factors such as maternal smoking, drinking, socio-economic status, diabetes, the use anti-epileptic drugs, and vitamin deficiencies. The study indicates that women should have a healthy BMI and aim for losing acquiring normal body weight before they decide to conceive for a healthy pregnancy and the health of their child. Inputs from AFP
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They collected information about children born with major birth defects and compared it to the BMI of the mothers at the time of birth. It was noted that more than 43,500 children suffered serious malformations and the most common one was a heart defect. The results of the study showed that for babies born to mothers with normal weight as well as those who were underweight, the rate of congenital malformation was about 3.4%. The risk rose to 3.5% for children of overweight women, 3.8% for obese ones, 4.2% in the severely obese category and 4.7% for morbidly obese mothers. Interestingly, it was also seen that the risk was higher for boys than for girls.These findings took into consideration potential risk factors such as maternal smoking, drinking, socio-economic status, diabetes, the use anti-epileptic drugs, and vitamin deficiencies. The study indicates that women should have a healthy BMI and aim for losing acquiring normal body weight before they decide to conceive for a healthy pregnancy and the health of their child. Inputs from AFP