Obesity and its associated metabolic transformations could constitute a significant burden in the postpartum period with its potential complications and outcomes. This chapter will highlight the effects of obesity beyond the immediate postpartum period and the best evidence to manage…
Postnatal care is preeminently about the provision of a supportive environment in which a woman, her baby, and the wider family can begin their new life together. Maternal overweight and obesity (body mass index >25 kg/m 2 ) is an…
42.1 Introduction The terms “overweight” and “obesity” are defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. Obesity is further classified into three categories: Class 1 (BMI 30.0–34.9 kg/m…
41.1 Introduction Although the duration of the second stage of labour is not affected by obesity, and the intrauterine pressure generated by the Valsalva manoeuvre is similar to normal-weight women, maternal obesity is a known risk factor for operative vaginal…
40.1 Introduction The prevalence of obesity in high-resource countries is rising in all age groups. It is estimated that over a third of women in the reproductive age are obese. Obesity is both a metabolic and an inflammatory disorder. Obesity…
Induction of labour (IOL) involves artificially stimulating the onset of labour through chemical and/or mechanical methods, with the aim of achieving a vaginal delivery, prior to the onset of spontaneous labour. Approximately 33.0% of deliveries in the United Kingdom (UK)…
38.1 Introduction Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the leading cause of direct maternal deaths in the United Kingdom. Obesity is a significant contributory factor for VTE in pregnancy and the risk increases by fourfold when compared with women of normal BMI.…
37.1 Introduction Pregnant women who are obese are at risk of a multiplicity of pregnancy-related complications, in particular preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. It has been suggested that similar to gestational diabetes and development of type 2 diabetes, gestational hypertension and…
Gestational diabetes (GDM) affects around 3.5% of pregnancies in the United Kingdom and has a higher prevalence in obese pregnant women. Maternal hyperglycaemia increases risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and GDM is associated with adverse outcomes for women and their…
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