Prepregnancy Obesity and Adverse Health Conditions in Rhode Island.

Obesity during pregnancy is a well-known risk factor for many adverse health conditions for both mother and baby, such as gestational diabetes, hypertension, preeclampsia, cesarean delivery, fetal macrosomia, preterm birth, miscarriage, and stillbirth. 3-8 It also increases the risk of certain birth defects, including anencephaly, spina bifida, and some heart defects. 3-6 Children born to obese mothers are twice as likely to be obese and to develop type 2 diabetes in life. Obesity during pregnancy is also associated with increased use of health care services, including more prenatal fetal tests, obstetrical ultrasonographic examinations, medications dispensed from the outpatient pharmacy, prenatal visits with physicians, and longer hospital stays, all of which can increase the cost of medical care. 7,8