Obesity in pregnancy

Abstract

A controlled study of 300 obese gravidae revealed increased incidences of pre-eclampsia, essential hypertension and gestational diabetes. There was no difference in the duration of labour or in the incidence of dysfunctional uterine contraction. There was a lower incidence of preterm delivery and low birth weight babies and macrosomia was more common. Inductio of labour and caesarean section rates were increased in the obese women. Apgar scores <7 at 1 min were commoner in babies of obese women; perinatal losses were 3.7 per cent in the controls. The obese parturient is clearly at risk and deserves closer surveillance.