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In the United States, one in every four women experiences complications during pregnancy. Obesity stands out as a significant risk factor for nearly every one of these cases, exacerbating various disorders in the process. Researchers from multiple medical centers, spanning from New Jersey to California, investigated how the timing of pregnancy in an obese woman influences complications and explored its long-term consequences on the cardiovascular system.
Obesity and Complications During Pregnancy and Childbirth
Excessive weight is a risk factor for gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders such as preeclampsia and eclampsia. All these conditions pose significant dangers to both the mother and the child and can have fatal or extremely severe consequences. These include miscarriages, fetal growth restriction, premature births, and various developmental abnormalities in infants. For the mother, this notably increases the risk of kidney, brain, and liver damage. Plus, the only viable delivery option might be a cesarean section.
That’s why women are advised to plan their pregnancies, and this preparation includes weight normalization. Tips on proper nutrition from gynecologist and endocrinologist Dr. Natalia Silina are compiled in this article.
Recently, there is growing evidence of the impact of pregnancy complications on increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases throughout life.
How the Research Was Conducted
The study involved 4216 pregnant women with an average gestational age of 11.4 weeks and an average age of 27 years. More than half of the participants (53%) had a normal Body Mass Index (BMI) – < 25 kg/m², 25% were overweight (BMI: from 25 kg/m² to < 30 kg/m²), and 22% were obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²).
The BMI of the women was measured during the baseline visit. Data on pregnancy complications and the course of childbirth and arising issues were collected throughout the process.
After childbirth, the participants’ fasting glucose levels, total cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were regularly measured.
Results
The average duration of pregnancy and birth weight were 39 weeks and 3.3 kg, respectively. Approximately 15% of women experienced hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. Nearly 8% of the participants had premature births, 4% had gestational diabetes. And 11% gave birth to children with low birth weight for their gestational age.
The team of scientists found that obesity or excess weight in early pregnancy indirectly influences the development of hypertension 3.7 years after childbirth. Cardiovascular disorders were primarily associated with two pregnancy complications – gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders. Gestational diabetes was also linked to a higher risk of developing diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and elevated levels of fasting glucose and total cholesterol.
