Effects of Obesity before Pregnancy

August 2, 2014

Effects of Obesity before Pregnancy – What you need to know

Obesity is never friendly for pregnancy, if you’re planning to get pregnant you need to seek for help to lose weight

The issue of weight gain is developing in a very high speed and it is becoming the concern of all healthcare providers globally. It has in the recent past become the obvious metabolic disease and this has led the World Health Organization (WHO) to consider obesity as one of the most serious global health problems of the 21st century. It is not a simple thing for the WHO to list obesity in this ranking and so we all have a duty to share and make contributions toward bring this condition to some degree of control. Therefore, what is this condition called obesity? By definition obesity is a health condition in which the accumulation of excessive body fat to an extent that is highly likely to impair health and increase morbidity and mortality. The most commonly use method of measuring obesity is body mass index (BMI) where an individual will be considered to be overweight if their BMI is between 25 and 30 kg/m²while those with more than 30 kg/m²are considered to be obese. In this article we are going to interrogate the effects of obesity in women who are planning to get pregnant in the future, in other words the focus of this article will be obesity before pregnancy. As we get into this discussion, I want to introduce to you one of my cherished professional dealing with issues of weight gain in the most natural way, I am talking about doctor Dalal Akoury who has been in this practice for well over 20 years and we will be making reference of her practice from time to time so that you can call her to attend to your situation.

According to WHO the prevalence of obesity in pregnancy cut across 1.8 to 25.3% with effects of obesity before and during pregnancy constituting a major risk factor for both maternal and fetal complications. While appreciating that children born of obese mothers may become obese in their childhood and develops metabolic syndrome in their adulthood, it is possible to address some of the issues relating to obesity during pregnancy since at this time mothers will be more willing to accept certain changes in their lifestyle like a well-balanced diet and bit of indulgence in physical activities, practicing this will certainly improve the fetal health. It therefore goes without saying that a well-balanced body weight at this point is very important, we will continue with this in our next article but for now let us get back to the discussion of obesity before pregnancy.

Are you planning to get Pregnant?

It is very essential that women planning to get pregnant make effort to maintain normal body weight because being obese or even being underweight has negative effects on pregnancy, these two conditions can cause a woman to have a reduced fertility in all dynamics that is to say when observed in both natural conception and conception achieved by assisted reproduction techniques (ARTs). In many instances when subfertility is observed in obese women, it is always occasioned partially due to the decrease in frequency or complete absence of ovulation.

The dominant cause of anovulation is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is characterized by central visceral obesity in 40% of the cases. Moreover, in a wider context of metabolic disorders,

Low concentration of serum
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol
High concentration of triglycerides
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol
Increased concentrations of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) tend to co-exist.

All these metabolic derangements increase the risk of developing:

Arterial hypertension
Coronary heart disease and
Thrombosis

In addition, hyperinsulinemia promotes the production of testosterone and Δ4-androstendione from the theca cells in the ovary and results in a condition of hyperandrogenemic anovulation, with a phenotype characterized by hirsutism, obesity, acne, seborrhoea and hair loss.

Obesity has been observed to exert a negative impact on ARTs. Specifically, obesity may adversely affect the duration of ovarian stimulation, number and quality of oocytes and embryos, fertilization rate, embryo transfer rate as well as implantation and pregnancy rates. In obese women, a longer duration of ovarian stimulation and higher doses of gonadotropins are required. Additionally, higher cancellation rates and higher incidence of follicular asynchrony are often observed. The lower number of oocytes retrieved in overweight and obese as compared to normal weight women may be due to the lower number of follicles, technical difficulties or both.

Moreover, obesity can prevent proper trans-abdominal ultrasonography imaging during embryo transfer. All these mechanisms may be responsible for the decrease in implantation and pregnancy rates in obese women undergoing ART.

What to do before pregnancy?

There are certain important things that you need to consider when you’re planning to get pregnant, for instance emphasis needs to be out in normalizing your weight. You should neither be over or underweight because having normal weight is not only good for conception but also for the outcome of the pregnancy. While appreciating that most pregnancies are not planned it is very important that you consult a specialist on how to lose weight and calling doctor Akoury an expert in matters relating to weight and obesity will be the starting point. Remember that things are changing and the prevalence of obesity is worrying today we have established fact that weight loss before pregnancy results in a better chance for conception and increases the percentage of live births for obese women with or without PCOS.

Obesity is not an easy condition to manage and it even gets more complicated when pregnancy is involved. It is therefore very essential that obese women are fully informed about the risks of obesity and the benefits of weight loss. This valuable information will be available at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care. At this facility you will meet real expert who will attend to you professionally and help you in the management of your weight by encouraging an improved lifestyle through balanced diet and physical exercise. Besides this doctor Akoury together with her team of her experts will focus on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE. The sole objective of experts at this facility under the able leadership of doctor Akoury is to restore your self-esteem and face life positively a head of your planned pregnancy. Call now and experience the real life fulfillment thereafter.

Effects of Obesity before Pregnancy – What you need to know

Motherhood and Obesity

July 15, 2014

Motherhood and Obesity- Emotional worries of a pregnant woman

Obesity has serious effect on motherhood and especially during pregnancy. If you are obese you may need prenatal care if you intend to become pregnant in future.

Life has a lot to offer in a family setup. Each family member will be pulling together to contribute positively into the well-being of the family unit. While we appreciate the efforts made by each family member, there are certain times when mothers find themselves playing double roles in the family. These are the times when each member of the family is physically, emotionally, economically and spiritually getting ready to receiving a new member of the family. When everyone is waiting mothers who bear the greatest burden go through experiences that no one can contemplate narrating if you are not a mother. I am talking of the emotional worry that goes on in the minds of our mothers when carrying and nursing pregnancy.

Because of the magnitude of what women go through psychologically we are going to discuss some of their worries and we are going to zero into those expectant women who are also suffering from obesity and are really struggling with their weight gain problem. What do these ladies go through in this state of pregnancy? Certainly these ladies have many questions and we are going to answer some of their concerns as we progress in this article.

Will I need specialized care during pregnancy?

All pregnant women will certainly be attended to regularly by their health care providers however if you are an obese and pregnant your health care provider will take very keen and close observation on you and depending on your condition they may make the following recommendations for you:

Early testing for gestational diabetes – if in the opinion of your doctor you stand a greater risk of gestational diabetes he may order for a screening test called the glucose challenge this test is normally done between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy however the doctor may recommend this test a little bit earlier in your pregnancy — maybe even at your first prenatal visit and if your test results are normal, you’ll likely repeat the same screening test between 24 and 28 week of pregnancy. It must be noted that this recommendations by the doctor will be applicable for pregnant obese women.

Delayed fetal ultrasound – the emergence of technology has introduced fetal ultrasound a technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the baby in your uterus. Basically fetal ultrasound is conducted between week 18 and 20 of pregnancy to assess the baby’s growth and development. Because this technology uses ultrasound waves don’t easily penetrate abdominal fat tissue, being obese during pregnancy will mean that there will be lots of fat tissues around the abdomen which will create interference or hindrance with the effectiveness of fetal ultrasound. This will mean that ultrasound results might be more detailed if the test is done a few weeks later, such as between weeks 20 and 22 of pregnancy.

Fetal echocardiography – your health care provider might recommend a fetal ultrasound that provides a detailed picture of your baby’s heart (fetal echocardiography) between weeks 20 and 22 of pregnancy. This test is used to rule out or confirm a congenital heart defect.

Frequent prenatal visits – as your pregnancy progresses, your health care provider might recommend more frequent prenatal visits to monitor your health and your baby’s health. Regular fetal ultrasounds might be recommended as well. The information from the ultrasounds report may be helpful and your health care provider can use this to evaluate your baby’s growth and plan for your delivery.

What steps can I take to promote a healthy pregnancy?

This the best question one can ask because it is very necessary that proper care is taken during pregnancy for the common good of both the child and the mother. All efforts must be made to ensure that the impact of obesity is significantly reduced. While appreciating that this can be difficult the following examples can be taken as precautionary measures:

Schedule a preconception appointment – Pregnancy does not come accidentally and so it can be planed for way ahead before it happen. If you’re obese and you’re considering getting pregnant, it is important that this become a serious agenda in your plans for the future by talking to your doctor who will advise on the best possible ways to take. Your doctor may advise a daily prenatal vitamin and where necessary refer you to other medical professionals like a registered dietitian or an obesity specialist who will help you make changes in your lifestyle and reach a healthy weight before pregnancy.

Seek regular prenatal care – As part of your plans for pregnancy prenatal visits can help your health care provider to make close observation on your health and that of your baby. It is important that you make full discloser to your health care provider any medical conditions you might have had in the past or currently such as diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnea etc. and discuss on what you can do to manage them.

Eat a healthy diet – Obesity is mainly as a result of poor eating habits this would require that you work very closely with your health care provider or a registered dietitian to maintain a healthy diet and avoid excessive weight gain. It is important to note that during pregnancy the body will need lots of folic acid, calcium, iron and other essential nutrients. A daily prenatal vitamin can help fill any gaps. Find out from your health care provider if you have special nutritional needs due to certain health condition like diabetes.

Be physically active – Consult your health care provider about safe ways to stay physically active during your pregnancy.

Avoid risky substances – It is very necessary that you do not indulge in substance abuse and if you are already using any substances you will need to seek help from an addiction expert to help you quit and also consult if there is need to use other medications or supplements before commencement.

We care for you greatly as mothers and hopeful mothers and that is why we write to inform you in the simplest way you can understand. Our care does not end at writing because we know that you will need further professional care dear reader for any need relating to weight gain or obesity we want to welcome you at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care who is also the founder of the facility. It will be our pleasure to help you get well naturally focusing on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE. It pleases us seeing that you are getting well and having your life back under the programs conducted at this facility come and never this facility.

Motherhood and Obesity- Emotional worries of a pregnant woman

Pregnancy and obesity

July 15, 2014

Pregnancy and obesity-The risks involved

Don’t let obesity or weight gain ruin your joy of motherhood. Seek help from obesity expert when pregnant and enjoy motherhood.

Weight is a very significant component in human life because there is the recommended weight considered to be healthy. If ones weight is not within the break even line then such individual has a medical problem and should seek medical attention immediately. Our mothers when pregnant will always add some weight due to the unborn baby growing inside their wombs. This is what I will call necessary weight gain because there is a baby involve, in fact the additional weight should be that of the unborn baby but if this goes beyond the recommended higher limit then there is a problem. This is the problem we want to discuss to give some insight on how to cope and respond when you find yourself in similar situation as a woman. Dear reader I do not intend to address women only but it is equally important for men to be equipped with this information to give a helping hand in the family if faced with the problem of weight gain during pregnancy.

Therefore being over-weight or obese during pregnancy may have health complications to the mother and to the unborn baby’s development in the womb and even on delivery and after delivery. Because of the magnitude involved it is important that we get to know the health complications arising out of weight gain and how to positively respond to them during and after pregnancy. For a start it is important that you are aware of what may be considered to be obese

What’s considered obese?

First of all what is obesity? It is a condition where the body accumulates too much fat that the body does not need. This is normally determined by a formula based on ones height and weight also known as body mass index (BMI). Below is a guide on what is considered normal or a pointer to obese.

Body Mass Index Weight status

a) Below 18.5 Underweight

b) 18.5 – 24.9 Normal

c) 25 – 29.9 Overweight

d) 30 – 39.9 Obese

e) 40 and above Extreme obesity

Could obesity affect my ability to get pregnant?

This condition can harm a woman’s fertility by preventing normal ovulation thereby necessitating the use of vitro fertilization (IVF) to complete the process. IVF is a common practice in which the sperm fertilizes the egg outside the body and doctors implant it into the woman’s uterus in hopes of a successful pregnancy. Answering the question being obese can affect pregnancy and as a woman’s BMI rises, so does the risk of unsuccessful IVF.

Effects of obesity during pregnancy

It is only healthy that pregnant women watch out their weight closely as possible to avoid being obese because obesity increases pregnancy complications risk greatly. Some of these risks may include:

Gestational diabetes – obese women stand great chance of suffering from diabetes that develops in the course of pregnancy which is commonly known as gestational diabetes than those with normal weight.
Preeclampsia – obese women has increased risk of developing high blood pressure and protein in the urine after 20 weeks of pregnancy (preeclampsia).
Infection – obese women has increased risk of urinary tract infections. Obesity also increases the risk of postpartum infection, whether the baby is delivered normally or by C-section.
Thrombosis – obese women has increased risk of a serious condition in which a blood clot forms inside a blood vessel (thrombosis).
Overdue pregnancy – obesity increases the risk of prolonged pregnancy wand goes beyond the expected due date.
Labor problems – labor induction is more common with obese women. This may also inhibit the use of certain types of pain medication like an epidural block.
C-section – obesity during pregnancy increases the likelihood of elective and emergency C-sections. It also increases the risk of C-section complications like delayed healing and wound infections. Women who are obese are also less likely to have a successful vaginal delivery after a C-section (VBAC).
Pregnancy loss – obesity increases the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth.

Effects of obesity to the unborn child

There are various health complications to the unborn baby when the mother is suffering from obesity, these may include:

Macrosomia – obese women has high potential of bringing forth babies who are who are obese are at increased risk of delivering an infant who is considerably larger than average (Macrosomia) and has more body fat than normal. Studies have established that as birth weight increases, so does the risk of childhood obesity.
Chronic conditions – being obese during pregnancy might subject your baby to the danger of developing heart disease or diabetes as they grow up into being adult.

The recommended weight gain during pregnancy

This is not possible expressly as each individual would gain differently depending on their health BMI, pre-pregnancy weight, their health and that of their unborn children. It is therefore important that pregnant mothers consult regularly with their health care provider to give direction on what’s best in each case and also to consistently monitor their weight though out the pregnancy period. You may want to consider the following general guidelines for pregnancy weight gain and obesity:

Single pregnancy – if you’re obese and carrying one baby, the recommended weight gain should be about 11-20 pounds that is approximately 5 to 9 kilograms.
Multiple pregnancies – if you’re obese and carrying twins or multiples, the recommended weight gain should be about 25-42 pounds which is approximately 11-19 kilograms.

In conclusion obesity is a medical condition and being obese during pregnancy may increase the risk of health complications for both of you (the mother and the baby). To reduce your nervousness, you will need to work very closely with your health care provider who will help you avoid excessive weight gain, manage any medical conditions, and monitor your baby’s growth and development. Talking of health care provider it is necessary that you seek for the experts and not just anybody for that matter. It is your life and that of the unborn child we are talking about here and that is why doctor Dalal Akoury founded AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center to help you get the assurance of good health even when you are obese. Under the care of Doctor Akoury your condition will be turn around into great joy by administering treatment while focusing on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) ensuring total reinstatement of normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE.

Pregnancy and obesity-The risks involved

Tag Archives: Pregnancy