Overweight Women and Shoulder Dystocia Problems

As pregnant women get fatter, the risks for childbirth complications expand.

According to the National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence, about 50 percent of women of childbearing age are either overweight or obese.

Potential complications for at risk pregnancies include miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, thromboembolism and maternal death. Research also suggests obese women are more likely to have an induced or longer labor, instrumental delivery, or a postpartum hemorrhage.

Babies born to overweight and obese women faced significant health risks such as a greater chance of congenital abnormality and shoulder dystocia.

Shoulder dystocia happens when a baby's shoulder becomes stuck which creates an emergency situation in the delivery room, a crisis that many a delivery room or is not equipped to handle. The same crisis cannot be handled properly by midwives or birthing centers. There is more risk for a child to be stillborn.

Doctors and birthing centers should be counseling women prenatally on sensible exercise, healthy diets, and not eating for two.