Obese pregnant women safety rules
Obese women have a body mass index (BMI) that is 30 or above. Several risks are associated with obese pregnancies, such as gestational diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension, stillbirth, and preterm birth. It can also cause fetal macrosomia and defects. The risks differ depending on the weight. Women with a BMI above 40 have the highest risk of having complications.
However, if you are obese and pregnant, you do not have to worry. There are various things you can do to reduce the risk of having complications. First, you have to see a doctor. Get advice from a dietician on what type of food to eat. A pregnant woman only needs 300 extra calories a day during the second and the third trimester. Also, get advice on the kind of exercise you need to do.
Avoid working out a lot. If you had not been exercising before, begin 5 minutes a day, for the first week; add the number of minutes in the second week. Do not participate in vigorous and dangerous exercises that can make you fall over, such as skiing and mountain climbing. Swimming is a suitable type of activity as it avoids muscle strain.
Avoid dieting as it can deprive the fetus of some of the essential nutrients. Take prenatal supplements such as vitamins. They help prevent neural tube defects and increase the number of irons in the body. If possible, reduce the consumption of fast foods, sweets, sodas, microwaved, and fried food.
Health practitioners should be very vigilant when handling obese pregnant women. Health facilities should ensure they have the necessary facilities to cater for them. They should have equipment such as the large blood pressure cuffs, appropriate theatre gowns, large wheelchairs, delivery beds, mattresses, and theatre trolleys.
Women with a BMI above 40 should have a risk handling assessment in the third trimester of pregnancy to determine the requirements during birth and labour. Women with multiple risk factors such as a history of pre-eclampsia, BMI above 35, and age above 40 years are required to take 150 mg aspirin daily for 12 weeks. Obese women should not take anti-obesity drugs.
Even after delivery, obese women should continue taking a proper diet and exercise. They should also breastfeed for at least one year. Breastfeeding mothers tend to lose more weight than those who don’t breastfeed. If you do not manage to lose weight while pregnant, don’t give up, continue exercising and eating healthy.