Obesity, pregnancy complications, and birth outcomes

Semin Reprod Med. 2012 Dec;30(6):465-71. doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1328874. Epub 2012 Oct 16.

Abstract

Obesity is an increasingly common complication of pregnancy with over half of all women in the United States starting pregnancy overweight or obese. Obese women face unique physiological changes during pregnancy, and these women and their neonates are at increased risk for perinatal morbidity and mortality. In this review, we discuss physiological alterations in obese pregnant women and examine obesity-related antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum complications along with management options.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Obesity / complications*
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Obesity / therapy
  • Parturition / physiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy Complications / etiology*
  • Pregnancy Complications / therapy
  • Pregnancy Outcome / epidemiology*
  • United States / epidemiology