Does obesity affect pregnancy? What are the effects of obesity on pregnancy?

As life improves, many women are facing the problem of obesity. Today, let's talk about whether obesity will affect women's pregnancy. Is it difficult for overweight women to conceive? Today, let's reveal the secrets.

Effects of pre-pregnancy obesity on pregnancy

Women who are obese before pregnancy are more likely to have complications during pregnancy and medical treatment, such as gestational diabetes, hypertension, preeclampsia, venous thrombosis, phlebitis, anemia, nephritis, gestational age exceeding 42 weeks, uterine weakness during delivery, and increased chances of dystocia and cesarean section. During cesarean section, common complications for obese women include heavy bleeding, prolonged surgery time, and increased chances of postoperative infection, especially for very obese people (body mass index greater than 40), who are very sensitive to respiratory depression caused by analgesic anesthetics.

The criteria for obesity before pregnancy:

The standard of obesity before pregnancy can be measured by body mass index (BMI), which is calculated by dividing weight (KG) by height (M) squared (BMI=kg/m^2). Taking BMI=22 as the benchmark, the standard weight is between 18.5-24; below 18.5 is underweight; above 24 is overweight; if BMI exceeds 27, it is considered obese. EX: 50kg/(1.60×1.60)=19.53 is the standard weight. In addition, waist circumference and body fat rate can also be used as assessment tools. If the waist circumference of men is greater than 90 cm and the waist circumference of women is greater than 80 cm, they are obese; if the body fat rate of men over 30 years old is greater than 25% and the body fat rate of women is greater than 30%, even if the weight is not heavy and the waist circumference is not large, they are also obese.

Through the above introduction, we have some understanding of the impact of pre-pregnancy obesity on pregnancy. Before getting married, women can choose some exercise to lose weight, which will not harm their health. But don't choose weight-loss drugs, as this will cause certain harm to pregnancy or themselves. This is something that must be kept in mind.

Effects of maternal obesity on the fetus

1. Premature birth.

2. Abnormal weight: It is easy to give birth to overweight babies or giant babies, and even the babies are more likely to be obese when they grow up.

3. Congenital abnormalities and defects: The risks of fetal neural tube defects, anencephaly, spina bifida, cardiovascular abnormalities, cleft lip and palate, anorectal atresia, hydrocephalus, limb abnormalities, etc. are increased.

4. Abortion (non-artificial) and stillbirth: The risk of stillbirth increases by 1-3 times. The more severe the obesity, the higher the risk of stillbirth. This is related to the fact that obese pregnant women are prone to preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, poor placental function, etc.

5. Others: The risks including the probability of neonatal admission to the intensive care unit, fetal distress, postpartum hemorrhage in pregnant women, and longer hospitalization days are all increased.

6. Breastfeeding: In addition, studies have also found that obese women start breastfeeding later after giving birth and the breastfeeding period is shorter than that of women of normal weight. In other words, the baby eats less breast milk, and breast milk is the best source of nutrition for newborns.

How to stay in shape while preparing for pregnancy

1. Develop good eating habits

Some pregnant women like to eat snacks while watching TV, and unknowingly eat a lot of food. This habit is very bad and can easily lead to overnutrition. Obese pregnant women should pay attention to eating regularly and eat on time. You can choose fruits with relatively low calories as snacks, and do not choose biscuits, candies, melon seeds, fried potato chips and other foods with relatively high calories as snacks.

2. Control your food intake

Mainly control the intake of foods with high sugar and fat content. Rice, pasta and other grains should not exceed the daily standard supply. For animal foods, choose more chicken, fish, shrimp, eggs and milk with relatively low fat content, and choose less pork, beef and mutton with relatively high fat content. You can also add some beans appropriately, so as to ensure the supply of protein and control the amount of fat. Eat less fried foods, nuts and plant seeds, as these foods also have high fat content.

3. Remove oil from food and reduce the calories of food through cooking methods

Remove fat from meat and grill or boil it. Do not stir-fry fish and vegetables, but boil or steam them. If you stir-fry, it is best to use a wok and use less oil. Do not ignore the calories of condiments. Mayonnaise, butter, sauces, etc. are low-calorie condiments and can be eaten with confidence. Also, eat some low-calorie dishes on weekdays. Fried foods such as fried shrimp are best eaten only once a week.

4. Three meals a day is an iron rule to prevent weight gain. People who like to eat snacks can easily lead to an imbalance in total calorie intake.

Even so, you should not control your diet too much. Don't eat while watching TV or reading. If you want to eat, do it in moderation. Be careful not to drink too much beverages and juice. You can eat more vegetables and fruits, and be careful to choose fruits with less sugar, which can relieve hunger and increase the intake of vitamins and organic matter.