Obesity Increases Risk of Complications During Pregnancy

08:00

November 22, 2011

Children born to obese mothers are at higher risk of birth defects according to the Tufts' Mother Infant Research Institute. (AP)

In this week's CommonHealth segment, we take a closer look at obesity during pregnancy.

Traditionally, doctors have focused on women's weight gain during pregnancy but new research shows that women's entry weight prior to getting pregnant is equally important.

Carey Goldberg, co-host of WBUR's Commonhealth blog recently met with researchers at Tufts Medical Center's Mother Infant Research Institute (MIRI) and learned about many unexpected risks for an obese mother and child.

Obese women face a three-fold increase in the risk of a stillborn birth as well as the heightened possibility of developing gestational diabetes. In fact, the most dangerous complications of pregnancy, the life-threatening ones, are far more common in obese women.

Carey and Tufts Medical Center's Dr. Errol Norwitz joins us to discuss these findings.

Guest:

Carey Goldberg, co-host, WBUR's Commonhealth blog
Dr. Errol Norwitz, professor and chairman, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tufts Medical Center

More:

Commonhealth: 10 Reasons To Fight Obesity Before Pregnancy

This segment aired on November 22, 2011.