RISKS FOR BABY

When it comes to the delivery of your baby, you are also more likely to need induction, instrumental (ventouse or forceps) delivery, or an emergency caesarean section.

 

The risks include;

• Being born early (before 37 weeks)
• An increased risk of stillbirth from an overall risk of 1 in 200 in the UK to 1 in 100 if you have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more.
• A higher risk of fetal abnormality, particularly of the heart and spine for example, neural tube defects like spina bifida. Overall, around 1 in 1,000 babies are born with neural tube defects in the UK. If your BMI is over 40, the risk is three times the risk of a woman with a BMI below 30.

 

These problems can also happen to any pregnant woman, whether she is overweight or not.