Obesity And The Influences Its Has On Maternity Care

This case study will be based on a case holding experience, focusing on the effect that a raised body mass index (BMI) has on a woman. This essay will discuss and critically evaluate the relevant professional issues, psychosocial factors and the role of health and public health strategies, as well as integrate the evidence that supports it. This case study will focus on the care of a primiparous woman. In order to respect her right to privacy and confidentiality in all aspects of her care, and in accordance with the NMC code, she will be referred to under the pseudonym of “Emma” (Nursing and Midwifery Council,

Those assumptions of the taken for granted relationship between obesity and health sometimes obscure the real causes that harm patients and lead to more fat-stigmatization. For instance, it is rare for a fat person to visit a doctor for checkup without hearing the normative advice to try to lose weight and eat healthy even though the visit might be completely unrelated to weight (Boero 2012: 134). This pre-assumptions and judgements that any fat person lives an unhealthy life style is already an issue.  The negative and automatic mind set of doctors, media and society towards obesity might be the root of the issue. Indeed, Boero in her book tells us of how gynecological cancer was thought to be more likely in obese women, and many concluded that obesity caused this type of cancer. However, one study, the WomanCare Plus, found that this cancer can be treated if early screening was done no matter what your size is (Boero 2012: 132). Moreover, they interviewed patients and found that women with high BMI faced some barriers that slowed their screening. For example, more than a third of women reported that they didn’t want to deal with the negative attitude of doctors towards their bodies. Also the embarrassment of not finding equipment that fit their size and the disrespectful treatments demotivated

As defined by the World Health Organization, obesity is “an abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. a BMI greater than or equal to 25 is overweight and a BMI greater than or equal to 30 is obesity”. Being obese or overweight is especially common in the US and is increasing nationally and globally. As per The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing (OJIN), recent studies show over 67% with BMI greater than 25 and Americans between the ages 26 - 75 are 10% to 40% morbidly obese with BMI greater than 30. Excess weight greater than the ideal body weight is a danger to one’s health. Obesity is one of the major risk factors for many diseases such as, Metabolic syndrome, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory compromise, intra-abdominal pressures, skin conditions and mental illness and last but not least, some cancers. As a nurse, anticipating obesity-related issues will only increase and nursing care plans will have to adjust as this epidemic continues. This epidemic can and will affect the goal of Interdisciplinary Team Health Care members in providing Holistic Care in an individual who is obese.

This is just one example of how obesity can be passed on from mother to fetus. Because we can only fill or empty our fat cells, a mothers’ plays a vital in the child’s odds of having obesity. And that’s why if you have childhood obesity you’re more likely to be obese even as an adult. Furthermore I found it very concerning, yet informative that it’s not just the diet of a women conception that effects the odds of babies having obesity but a mothers diet at least two years prior to conception. Although I agree with this argument, one point that I think they should have briefly discussed is the father diet before conception is important too. I think preventive care for both parents, not just the mother should be discussed because the both parents are part of the child’s dietary

Of the 102 participants fifty (49%) were classified as non-obese and fifty-two (51%) as obese at the conception of the pregnancies. The mean PPBMI for the non-obese group was 25.5 ± 2.3 kg/m2 compared to 37.9 ± 5.9 kg/m2 in the obese group (Stone et al., 2011). The obese group of women gained less weight during the pregnancy than the non-obese group. Preterm delivery occurrences at less than 37 weeks were similar between both groups at 32.0% for the non-obese and 28.8% in the obese group. Little difference was noted between the groups in the gestational ages at delivery and infant birth weights. Additionally, no clinically significant differences in the development of GDM, NICU or nursery admissions were noted. However the maternal obesity group had clinically significant differences in the cesarean delivery rate (63.5% vs. 36.0%, p = 0.010) and the development of PRH (36.5% vs. 8%, p = 0.010) in comparison to the non-obese group, these were statistically significant findings (Stone et al., 2011).

The topic was suitable to the population due to the prevalence of obesity in Michigan. The obesity prevalence in Michigan is 32.5% in the year 2016 (The State of Obesity, 2016). Therefore, a concerted effort that focuses on exercise during pregnancy could be supportive in preventing pregnancy

The obesity epidemic has become one of America’s most serious health crises. The rising obesity rate has contributed to numerous significant health problems and diseases. One specific group for whom obesity is a problem is women of childbearing age. According to Davis, Madan, and Schmatz(2010), more than half of women from ages 18 to 42 in the United States are considered overweight or preobese, while about one-third are obese. Maternal obesity not only contributes to complications that affect the mother and fetus while in gestation, but long-term complications

After reviewing the study and learning more about gestational diabetes, I feel that with more education and ensuring compliance in nutrition, testing, and follow up are beneficial to the pregnancy and after pregnancy as well. The importance of education, and compliance, however, is not only exclusive to gestational diabetic pregnancies. All pregnancies could benefit from increased education of nutrition, and importance of compliance with follow ups and testing. The challenge with the study was the loss of sample size, which is not just a problem for the study, but an issue felt by obstetricians, family physicians, and other pregnancy specialists; loss of sample size for the study is equal to lack of compliance of prenatal care in the office. Encouragement and more frequent checks on good prenatal care would benefit not just gestational diabetes

The rates of obesity and diabetes in mothers are quickly increasing across America. As it stands, roughly 40 percent of all women are obese, with over half of women in childbearing age being overweight, according to an article published in ScienceNews (Beil 2016). Diabetes is following a similar trend, as obesity is known to relate to its onset (Krakowiak et al 2012). Unfortunately, both conditions negatively impact the development of offspring during pregnancy (Krakowiak et. al 2012). In fact, they have been linked to disorders affecting the development of the fetal brain including autism spectrum disorder, among others.

The literature search was conducted using the keywords and terms maternal obesity, overweight, pregnancy obesity complications, pregnancy risks for obesity, weight gain in pregnancy and prevalence of maternal obesity in Australia. Articles, researches and journals published within the last five years were chosen to gather the most recent peer-reviewed and evidence-based information. The databases that were used include CinahlFT and Science Direct via Learnline. A total of twelve journals were analysed and thoroughly reviewed on this essay. Government published materials from websites (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council) were also referenced.

Society looks at Pregnancy as an amazing and exciting time for women and their families. However women diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus can experience an increased amount of stressors not only physical but, emotionally and socially. Physically GDM causes increased blood sugar levels which can have dangerous and harmful effects on both mother and infant. New to be mothers can have a hard time understanding and coping with their pregnancy and condition if not supported correctly by healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals should use a women-centred approach when delivering maternity care as it empowers women in the self-management of their care. This essay will discus in further detail the aspects of GDM, including the

1. “All over the world, pregnant woman is bombarded with opinions about what to eat and what to avoid”:

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), obesity has nearly doubled in the last 35 years. Out of 1.4 billion adults, 200 million men were obese and just less than 300 million obese were women. (World Health Organisation. 2015.) Firstly, what is obesity? Individuals are classed as obese if their energy consumed is abnormal or excessive than the energy expanded, risking impaired health. How do we classify someone as obese? For several years, clinicians have been commonly using the Body Mass Index (BMI) to classify a person according to their weight. Although the BMI does not unfortunately distinguish the weight of a person’s muscle mass or that of a pregnant female from the weight associated with actual fat, the scale does prove to indicate

The number of women of child-bearing age who are overweight and obese is increasing today. This study investigates the views and attitudes of health professionals on giving antenatal care to women who have body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 and over. A qualitative study using three focus groups was assumed within the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at a large teaching hospital in south-eastern Australia. One with hospital midwives (n=10), one with continuity of care midwives (n=18), and one with obstetricians (n=5). Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyze data. There are 6 dominant themes that emerged and formed a model representing current health care issues for these women: 1) obesity puts the health of

Obesity plays a major role in women’s health and impacts it in numerous ways. Those who are at increased risk for obesity are African American, have multiple children or are in their twenties. (Sarina Schrager, 2011) Obesity puts the women at greater risk for developing coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, preeclampsia, cancers, and musculoskeletal pain among the many other complications that may be associated to being overweight. Obese women may have trouble becoming pregnant due to irregular menstrual cycles and decreased fertility. Women who are obese are at greater risk for complications during pregnancy, labor and postpartum. Cesarean rates are higher among obese women which require longer hospital stays and increase