What’s the leading threat to a healthy pregnancy? Most doctors automatically classify a pregnancy as “high risk” if the woman is over 35—even if she’s in perfect health. However, the risk of most complications only increases slightly with age. A new study suggests that the number ob/gyns should be looking at to gauge risk isn’t age, but a woman’s weight. In March, British researchers reported that being seriously overweight magnifies dangers for both the woman and her unborn child, but little is being done to help obese mothers-to-be.
Maternal obesity has more than doubled over the past 20 years, with one in six pregnant women in the UK facing extra hazards, including heart disease and increased risk of birth defects or stillbirth. More than half of women who die during pregnancy and childbirth are overweight, yet obese women rarely receive any weight management services or support to help them achieve a healthy weight before becoming pregnant or counseling on what they can do to lower risks after they’re already pregnant.
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