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Dr. Garrett Lam discusses how obesity can affect pregnancy and childbirth. Dr. Lam serves as the Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Dr. Lam:
Obesity actually is one of the most common problems affecting our female population today and obesity has actually become an epidemiologic crisis whereby the most recent statistics from our government organization show that fully over 50% of our population is considered overweight or obese right now with some states having a doubling in the amount of people who are obese in their population.
Obesity affects pregnancy in profound ways. It not only increases the risk for underlying diseases such as preeclampsia and diabetes, but it can even lead to issues such as, perhaps even increasing the risk for fetal defects such as spina bifida and also producing problems with fetal growth and thereby affecting the prospects for normal delivery.
Obese women are, for example, more likely to fail vaginal delivery and need C-sections and are more likely to incur complications from their C-section such as blood loss, infection and a wound breaking down or reopening.
Obesity within pregnancy itself can impinge upon the ability to help a woman or adequately diagnose problems of the fetus. For example, a woman who is bigger, we have a harder time visualizing fetus with ultrasound. Because of that, we often times can have difficulty adequately dating the pregnancy and thereby establishing how far along the pregnancy truly is.
These babies also do have a tendency to have issues with growth and for example, can end up being bigger than normal and thereby causing problems at delivery as well.
About Dr. Garrett K. Lam, M.D.:
Dr. Garrett K. Lam is board certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Maternal Fetal Medicine. He received his MD from the University of Rochester, completed his residency training at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, then went to the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill for his fellowship in Maternal Fetal Medicine.
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Keywords:
Condition: Pregnancy, High-Risk Pregnancy, Preeclampsia
Related Terms: Cesarean Section, C-Section, Vaginal Birth, Elective C-Section, Emergency C-Section, Labor, HELLP Syndrome, Intrauterine Growth Restriction, Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension
Health Care Provider: Banner Hospital, Banner Medical Center, Banner Health, Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, Banner Good Samaritan Hospital, Banner Good Sam
Location: Phoenix, Arizona, AZ, 85006, Tempe, Scottsdale, Mesa, Maricopa County, Phoenix Metropolitan Area
Expert: Dr. Garrett K. Lam, Garrett Lam, M.D., Doctor Garrett Lam, Obstetrician Dr. Garrett Lam, Dr. Garrett Lam, OB/GYN
Expertise: High-Risk Pregnancy, Cesarean Section, C-Section, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Perinatal Care, Birthing Services, Fetal Assessment, Fetal Therapy, Fetal Intervention, Premature Babies
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