A growing body of research has shown that It’s no secret that the United States is experiencing an obesity epidemic. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 25% of the country’s entire population is now considered obese. And this dramatic weight gain is “expanding” into many areas of the population, especially that of pregnant women. In fact, the CDC has now determined that one in five American women who gives birth is now considered obese!

Multiple studies have found that pregnancy may hold potential health risks for those women of normal weight. But for obese mothers-to-be, it can be very dangerous — for both the mother and the baby. Among the mothers’ possible complications are diabetes, high blood pressure (“hypertension”) and premature delivery. These women are also at risk for giving birth to babies with neural-tube defects and other malformations. Therefore, it’s vital for these pregnant women to constantly monitor their conditions, and receive thorough examinations regularly.

The Birth of A New Medical Subspecialty

The specialized weight considerations, as well as the growing number of obese pregnant women, have resulted in a new medical subspecialty. Known as “bariatric obstetrics,” these doctors play a major role throughout in their patients’ treatment. And their patients’ weight considerations may require changes to their typical treatment options. “We perform an anatomical survey of the fetus, but in an extremely obese woman, the ultrasound signal often can’t penetrate through all the tissue,” says Dr. Mark Chames, an obstetrician at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor. For these situations, Dr. Chames utilizes a vaginal probe, rather than an ultrasound. .

And there may be more problems when the mother gives birth, as obese women’s fetuses may be too large to fit through their birth canals. Compared to mothers of normal weight, obese mothers are about twice as likely to require Caesarean sections. In addition, doctors may need specialized equipment, including longer surgical instruments and extra-wide, specially reinforced operating-room tables.

The Weight Loss Prescription for Pregnancy

A growing number of hospitals and medical facilities are taking steps to combat the issue of obese pregnancy. Not only are some obstetricians advising pregnant mothers-to-be to avoid putting on ANY extra weight during pregnancy, but even to lose weight! Many physicians and medical experts are hesitant to go against years of existing pregnancy information. But in light of new research, lower weights may offer the best ways for mothers and their children to be healthy. Specifically, obese women who maintain or lose weight during pregnancy are shown to experience significantly fewer complications and deliver healthier babies.

As a result, many obstetricians are changing their traditional views of pregnancy. In 1990, the Institute of Medicine issued guidelines calling for women to gain at least 15 pounds during pregnancy. At that time, low-birth-weight babies were a much larger concern than obese and pregnant women. Indeed, many medical experts now believe that pregnancy itself may be adding to the obesity problem, as women are not only gaining weight, but keeping it on after giving birth.

There may be yet another reason to keep the pounds off in pregnancy. A study published in The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology demonstrates that the wombs of pregnant obese women may increase the likelihood of fetuses grow up to be overweight later in life. The study, which involved 1,044 mother-child pairs, found a strong link between greater weight gain during pregnancy and heavier children at age 3. In addition, multiple animal studies suggest that during pregnancy, various factors – including the mother’s dietary intake, weight or circulating levels of nutrients and hormones — may send a signal to the fetus. This signal may influence the fetus’ appetite control, metabolism and genes.

The bottom line is that pregnancy may be the determining factor for a large part of the obesity epidemic. “The reason this is so important is that the effects of excess weight during pregnancy reach into the next generation,” says Susan Chu, a CDC epidemiologist.