Articles

Pregnancy and obesity: Know the risks

Could obesity affect my ability to get pregnant? How might obesity affect my pregnancy? Content What's considered obese? Could having a high BMI affect my ability to get pregnant? How might a high BMI affect my pregnancy? How could obesity affect my baby? How much weight should I gain during pregnancy? Will I need specialized care during pregnancy? What steps can I take to promote a healthy pregnancy?

How could obesity affect my baby?

Having a high BMI during pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of various health problems for a baby, including:

  • Birth defects
  • Being significantly larger than average (fetal macrosomia)
  • Impaired growth
  • Childhood asthma
  • Childhood obesity

However, other factors also might play a role in these outcomes.

Related Services