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Obesity and C-sections

Is There a Link Between the Two?

By Teri Brown

Another reason is that larger women also often have larger babies, either because of gestational diabetes, genetic reasons or because of weight gain during pregnancy, and larger babies are more difficult to deliver vaginally.

Sember found during her research that there is a prevailing belief among many physicians that plus-size women have a slim chance of delivering vaginally. According to Sember, a recent Duke University study found that plus-size women should be given epidurals upon admittance to the hospital to prevent the need for emergency anesthesia should a C-section become necessary.

Obesity can cause complications in pregnancy, birth and delivery. These complications can include gestational diabetes; delayed active labor; problems placing epidurals; difficulty inserting a breathing tube for general anesthesia; and complications from C-sections such as blood clots and incisions that don't heal properly.

"However, I really do want to emphasize that most plus-size women have healthy and happy deliveries, whether by C-section or not," says Sember. "I say in the book that all women come to pregnancy with their own risk factors. No one is guaranteed a healthy pregnancy and being plus-sized is just another one in a variety of possible risk factors.

Want to see more?

• A Healthier Pregnancy: Exercise Trends That Are Making a Difference
• A Guide to C-section Births: What Dads Need to Know
• Six Months to Conception: A Practical 5-Step Plan Toward Pregnancy
• Talk about it!