RESEARCH by North East scientists has shown that babies born to obese mothers are at increased risk of dying during birth or in their first year.
A study of just under 41,000 pregnancies at maternity units throughout the region found that obese women who were in early pregnancy had almost double the risk of their baby dying in the womb or up to one year after birth, compared with babies born to normal-weight mothers.
The study estimated there were nearly eight more deaths per 1,000 births among obese women, with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30, than with those of the recommended BMI of between 18.5 and 24.5.
Experts in the North East have called on women to achieve a healthy weight before getting pregnant.
Dr Ruth Bell, clinical senior lecturer in the Institute of Health and Society at Newcastle University and associate director at the Regional Maternity Survey Office lead the three-year project.
She said: “The results we found were not totally unexpected as there have been similar studies done in the past that have arrived at the same conclusion.
“However, I want to reassure mothers that it is uncommon for foetal and infant deaths – most women deliver healthy babies despite what weight they are.
“When a woman is pregnant it is not the right time for her to go on a diet as it is most important that she eats healthily, ensuring her baby gets all the essential nutrients it needs.
“What is important, however, is that women are helped and supported to achieve a healthy weight before they become pregnant or after the baby is born as this will give the baby the best start to life.”
Information for the study, which was published in the medical journal Human Reproduction, was collected during mothers’ antenatal visits between 2003 and 2005 and the optimum weight for a mum-to-be was reported as being a BMI of 23.
The total risk of baby deaths among obese women was 1.6% compared with 0.9% in normal weight women. Research suggests a reason for the increased risk of baby deaths in obese women was due to a higher number of cases of pre-eclampsia, a serious pregnancy complication that is diagnosed by high blood pressure and protein in the urine.
Dr Bell added: “When a woman is obese there is an increased risk of high blood pressure or diabetes developing during pregnancy. As a result it is important that the mother and baby are regularly monitored.”
The researchers adjusted their results to take account of the mothers’ age, ethnicity, smoking status, socio-economic status, and for the birth weight and gestational age of the babies. Pregnancies where the baby had a congenital problem or where the mother had a history of diabetes were excluded.
In the future Dr Bell and her team intend to do further research looking into the best way to reduce the risks of foetal and infant deaths in obese women.
