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SOGC Annual Clinical Meeting, Vancouver, June 22-27, 2006

Is It Safe To Have a Baby If You Are Obese?

Experts say that obesity in Canada is on the rise and is having a significant negative impact on our health as a nation. According to Statistics Canada, 23% of Canadian women over the age of 18 were obese, and the number of obese children has nearly tripled in the past 25 years.

Given the many health concerns associated with obesity, it is not surprising that treating obesity during pregnancy and child birth has special challenges. Obese women face added risks including hypertension, gestational diabetes, and a higher risk of giving birth to babies with congenital heart and neural tube defects. In addition, common health conditions caused by obesity, such as heart disease or diabetes, can cause additional risks during pregnancy and may require special considerations for care

During the Annual Clinical Meeting of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) next week in Vancouver, health practitioners will explore the rising obesity rate, the health concerns of being pregnant while obese, and the significant effects these might have on the safety and cost of pregnancy and childbirth in Canada.

Biographical Notes for Dr. Michael Helewa – President SOGC

Dr. Michael E. Helewa is a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences of the University of Manitoba, and Head of Clinical Obstetrics at St. Boniface General Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He is the President-Elect of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada (SOGC) for 2004-2005, and President of the SOGC for 2005-2006.

He received his medical degree in 1980 at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, following which he completed his postgraduate training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Manitoba in 1987. His interests are in maternity care and high-risk obstetrics. He has many publications in peer reviewed journals, including authorship of national guidelines. He is a frequent speaker in Obstetrics at numerous national and international meetings.

He is an active participant in local and national Canadian obstetrical research. He serves, and has previously served, on several committees of the Society of Obstetricians & Gynecologists of Canada, including: the current SOGC-led Multidisciplinary Collaborative Primary Maternity Care Program, the Scientific Planning Committee for the Annual Meeting of SOGC, Planning Committee for the SOGC Western Regional Conference, Finance committee, Membership committee, SOGC Central Region committee, ALARM Program Scientific committee, Breast Disease committee, and is a member of the SOGC Council and Executive. He was Deputy Editor of the Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology of Canada (JOGC). He had participated in the proceedings of many consensus groups of the SOGC, particularly pertaining to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preterm labor and prematurity, breast disease in pregnancy, and pregnancies with multiples.

Backgrounder

About Obesity and Pregnancy

Overweight women face additional risks during pregnancy, such as pre-term birth, pre-eclampsia (hypertension in pregnancy), and gestational diabetes, and are at a higher likelihood of requiring a caesarean section delivery. Caesarean deliveries are also riskier for overweight women, because of potentially higher blood loss during the procedure.

Obesity during pregnancy also carries concerns for babies, who are at a higher risk of certain conditions such as congenital heart neural tube defects.

Overweight women are generally recommended to gain less weight during pregnancy than underweight or normal weight women. Dieting during pregnancy is never recommended, as it could limit the nutrition available to her child.

By itself, obesity is also associated with many health risks such as diabetes and heart disease. These factors may also necessitate special care during pregnancy.

The statistics Canada survey also found that the 25 to 34 age group had the fastest growing obesity rate among adults. The obesity rate in this group more than doubled over the past 25 years, from 9% to 21% of Canadians.

http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/050706/d050706a.htm

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About The SOGC:

The SOGC is one of Canada’s oldest national specialty organizations. Established in 1944, the Society’s mission is to promote excellence in the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology and to advance the health of women through leadership, advocacy, collaboration, outreach and education. The SOGC represents obstetricians/gynaecologists, family physicians, nurses, midwives and allied health professionals in the field of sexual reproductive health

 

Last Updated April 19, 2007