A release posted in August from The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists on obesity and pregnancy drones on about the epidemic of obesity (wonder where they got that from), fertility risk factors, surgical risk factors and the usual combination of obesity, pregnancy, diabetes and high blood pressure.
It then gives some suggestions on "dealing with obese patients". This consisted of telling us how much we should gain during pregnancy (according to the Institute of Medicine normal weight gain is 25-35 lbs. Overweight gain should be 15-25 lbs. And if you are obese gain should be 15 lbs. Now there's a bit of useful information.), measuring our BMI, telling us how to eat and to exercise, gestational diabetes screening and making sure we understand the complications. I would hope all these things would be discussed with "average" weight women as well.
It's important for women to be informed about their health and their pregnancy but it isn't necessary to create anxiety once they are already pregnant. How about being supportive? Educating with the goal of making their pregnancy the best experience of their lives.
Do obese women have complications during pregnancy? Certainly. Do "average" women have complications during pregnancy? Certainly. Is it possible for an overweight or obese woman not to have any complications during pregnancy? Yes. Unfortunately, we are bombarded with a lot of things that "could" happen. Ideally, losing some weight before pregnancy would be desirable but it is possible for women to enjoy their pregnancy and delivery without fear.
I thought you'd like to hear about pregnancies from plus size women who went through the experience and lived to tell. Here are some such experiences. I hope you enjoy getting to know about these women and their pregnancies and that you'll look more positively on your own.
* Michelle
* Lisa
* Cynthia
* Melissa
