Perils Of Overweight Baby During Pregnancy

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When we say that a baby is overweight, most often we mean that the baby is already born. But even an unborn baby can be overweight. If your baby is extremely large, then you can say that your baby is overweight during pregnancy. Sometimes, when the baby is too large and heavy, it can pose health risks to the mother and make delivery a difficult affair.

It is not uncommon for a baby to become overweight during the third trimester of pregnancy. This is the time when the baby in your womb puts on weight rapidly. And if you have been taking the concept of eating for two a bit too seriously, then you will end up with a baby that is overweight.

Now, we all like large and fluffy babies. But having an overweight baby during pregnancy poses some risks to your health and that of your baby's. It is better to have a baby that is healthy than to have a baby that is fat.
Here are some of the problems of having an obese baby in your womb.

Normal Delivery Is Ruled Out

If your baby weighs anything more that 4 kgs in the 36th week, you can be rest assured that your doctor has considered C-section as a serious option. It becomes difficult for the mother to sustain a vaginal delivery when the baby is extremely large.

Baby Movements

When your baby grows fat, his or her movement comes down. Your baby does not get space to move and as a result, you might have long stretches of time when your baby does not move at all. It is important to count baby movements in the third trimester.

Your Own Movements

Carrying an overweight baby during pregnancy makes your own movements very cumbersome. You will find it hard to move around with a massive baby bump.

Frequent Urination

All pregnant women have the problem of frequent urination. If your baby is extra large, you will literally be sitting in the toilet all day.

Chances Of Pre-term Birth

When your baby grows extra large, there are chances that your womb would not be able to support the weight for full term of the pregnancy. You will most probably have a pre-term birth as your water may burst prematurely.

Choking

Your baby might be grasping for breath even before it is born. Sometimes, you can see obese babies suffocating due to lack of space in ultrasound scans. In that case, the doctors have to go for an emergency c-section.

Birth Defects

Birth defects like webbed feet or cleft feet are usually seen in babies that are overweight in the womb. This happens because the baby does not get enough space to turn over or free its arms.