Pregnant women who are obese require more medical services and extended hospital stays for delivery, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Entering pregnancy at a healthy weight is crucial for the health of mom and baby. A...
Overweight women are at an increased risk for several pregnancy complications for both mom and baby. For the moms, these include miscarriage, high blood pressure during pregnancy, diabetes during pregnancy. For the babies, complications include...
When a woman is pregnant, she generally expects to gain weight. However, an obese woman's recommended weight gain is not the same as the average pregnant woman's. In fact, some women who are obese prior to their pregnancy may actually be advised...
One-fifth of pregnant women in the United States are obese, according to a 2009 New York Times Article titled "New Goal for the Obese: Zero Gain in Pregnancy." If you are obese and pregnant, it is important to be mindful of your diet and weight...
Obese women have an increased risk of complications during pregnancy. For example, obese pregnant women more often develop gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension and pre-eclampsia, the American Congress of Obstetricians and...
Weight gain is an inevitable and necessary part of pregnancy. But if you're starting out overweight or obese, you may worry about gaining more weight and are consider starting an exercise program. Obesity increases your risk for complications in...
Although weight gain and food cravings during pregnancy are normal, becoming obese during pregnancy can cause serious health problems for you and your child. Monitor your weight and junk food consumption during pregnancy to prevent health...
As of 2007, one in five women in the United States begins their pregnancy obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Unfortunately, carrying excess weight is associated with serious health risks for both mom and baby. If...
Getting pregnant is a challenge for many women. The health problems that come along with obesity can pose risks and decrease the likelihood of getting pregnant. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, women with a body mass...
If your dining ambition is just to fill up, any all-you-can-eat buffet will do. But eating to fuel a healthy body is different. You’ll want to aim for a variety of foods, of course, but also for foods that are nutrient-dense. Meals rich in...
Gaining too much or too little weight during pregnancy can be harmful to both you and your baby, so it's no wonder that many women worry about their weight gain while pregnant. Depending on your non-pregnancy weight, your doctor will likely give...
The maternal risks of obesity during pregnancy include intolerance to glucose during pregnancy, called gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia, a life-threatening condition of high blood pressure with possible kidney and placenta damage. Potential...
A high BMI, or body mass index, is associated with increased risk of pregnancy complications, including fetal death. It is not always possible to reach your ideal weight before pregnancy. Whatever your starting weight, you can manage your weight...
In 2007, one in three pregnant women suffered from obesity and half of all women of child-bearing age have a body mass index that classifies them as overweight, according to the Baby Center. A plus-sized pregnancy can increase your risk of...
One of the most important factors for having a healthy baby is being a healthy mother. If you are planning on becoming pregnant, you should take steps to be as healthy as possible before conceiving. Women who are obese have an increased risk of...
Approximately 20 percent of pregnant women in America are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Being overweight or obese during your pregnancy increases your risk for gestational diabetes, high blood pressure,...
Obesity, defined by the World Health Organization as having a Body Mass Index of 30 kg/m2 or greater, is a risk factor for infertility, as well as subfertility, or reduced fertility, in women. The reasons why obesity causes fertility problems in...
More people are overweight or obese today than ever before, says the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, or CDPHE. The number of women who are of childbearing age and overweight or obese is increasing. Pre-pregnancy body mass...
While there are many factors involved in successfully conceiving a baby, being overweight or obese can reduce your fertility. This is because extra fat on the body produces the hormone estrogen. Excess estrogen in the body affects your ability to...
Obesity means having a body mass index higher than 30, which essentially means that the body is about 30 percent fat. Being obese can cause a slew of health conditions over time such as heart disease, diabetes and even certain cancers. Obesity can...
Being overweight or obese complicates pregnancy in ways that are best prevented by weight loss before conception, according to the findings of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A woman is overweight when her body mass index, or...
Your health status before conception is just as important as your health during pregnancy. A woman who is overweight or obese before pregnancy may be at risk of complications once she conceives. The American Pregnancy Association recommends trying...
Vessels visible on the legs are a common problem. Leg veins are more likely to become swollen and noticeable through the surface of the skin because blood pools in the legs. Varicose veins usually have either a purple, blue or red color to them....
Being overweight affects your chances of getting pregnant. A study reported by Barbara Luke of Michigan State University looked at pregnancy rates in 50,000 women undergoing assisted reproductive technology procedures. The study showed that women...
Lower back pain can be mild to severe and can be caused by injury, viral infections, degenerative diseases, being overweight or obese, smoking, pregnancy, stress, poor posture and being in poor physical condition, reports the National Institute of...
Gestational diabetes is diagnosed during pregnancy, usually at about 24 to 28 weeks. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are few obvious symptoms of gestational diabetes. Risk factors include age, family history, overweight or obese prior to...
Eating for two is more than just a figure of speech. With a new life growing inside, expectant mothers need to eat more food. But pregnant women may be able to eat less than they think.
Being overweight can interfere with your ability to sustain a healthy pregnancy. The health risks for you and your baby increase as excess pounds are added. For example, you may experience high blood pressure, diabetes and complications with...
Stretch marks have long been a source of distress for women. They can appear with weight fluctuations, rapid weight loss, obesity and pregnancy. Stretch marks can appear anywhere from the upper arms to the abdomen and thighs. Sometimes, but...
GERD or gastro esophageal reflux disease is a condition in which stomach acid or, occasionally, bile flows back into your food pipe. The constant backwash or acid reflux can irritate the lining of your esophagus and cause inflammation. Learn about...