Unborn babies at risk from weight change by mothers

Mothers who drastically lose or gain weight between pregnancies could damage the health of their unborn babies, according to medical experts.

They say women are becoming increasingly pressurised after being "bombarded" with messages about body image, ranging from the "size zero" culture to fears about obesity.

However, they warn women whose weight fluctuates dramatically before becoming pregnant again could be putting their own health, and that of the child, at risk.
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Writing an editorial published today in the British Medical Journal, Dr Jennifer Walsh and Professor Deirdre Murphy, pointed to two separate studies on weight gain and loss between pregnancies.

They showed gaining weight could cause high blood pressure and diabetes in mothers and could also cause problems during childbirth, with a greater risk of forceps delivery, caesarean sections and an increased risk of stillbirths.

However, they also warned losing large amounts of weight very rapidly could cause premature births.

"Women of reproductive age are bombarded with messages about diet, weight and body image," they said. "There is growing concern on the one hand about an epidemic of obesity and on the other about a culture that promotes size zero' as desirable, irrespective of a woman's natural build.

"Pregnancy is one of the most nutritionally demanding periods of a woman's life, with an adequate supply of nutrients essential to support foetal wellbeing and growth.

"With at least half of all pregnancies unplanned, women need to be aware of the implications of their weight for pregnancy, birth and the health of their babies.

"However, the potential to provide women with conflicting information about weight, weight gain and weight loss extends to pregnancy and birth outcomes."

One study from Sweden, which examined 207,534 women, found increased rates of pre-eclampsia, high blood pressure and diabetes in the mothers whose body mass index (BMI) increased by one to two units between preg-nancies. A rise of more than three BMI units significantly increased the rate of stillbirths.

The second study found women whose BMI fell by five or more units between pregnancies had a higher risk of giving birth prematurely than those whose weight remained stable or increased.

Professor Murphy, professor of obstetrics at Trinity College, University of Dublin, said "swinging changes" in weight were harmful to both mothers and babies and women should try to maintain a healthy weight before, during and after pregnancy. She said women should also ignore pressure from celebrity mothers, many of whom are seen squeezing back into their pre-pregnancy clothes within weeks of giving birth.

"The issue is both for mother and baby," she said. "Most people realise being very overweight is bad for your health but some women don't realise being underweight causes problems with pregnancy.

"The health message is to try to be a normal weight for you and maintain a normal weight - neither going underweight, which some of these celebrities are, nor becoming relaxed about the fact you have put a lot of weight on.

"The important thing is to lose weight steadily so it is something you can maintain throughout your life, not just in the short term." She added it was important that healthcare professionals were able to advise women on the best way to protect their own and their children's health.

Gillian Smith, acting director of the Royal College of Midwives in Scotland, said it was important all agencies worked together to give the best advice. She added: "There has been huge publicity about obesity and the damage that causes but it is also about making sure a woman's low weight does not cause damage."

Source:www.theherald.co.uk