New Delhi: According to a study, babies born to overweight or obese mothers are more likely to die within the first year of being born. This was discovered by a study that evaluated the rates of sudden infant death (SUID), a condition that does not have any concrete obvious cause. This usually occurs when the baby is asleep and is also known as cot death. Experts at the University of Washington evaluated 18 million babies born in the US from 2015 to 2019, among these, 16500 died because of SUID.
How does maternal obesity affect early death risk in babies?
According to experts, babies born to mothers who have a high BMI before pregnancy and during gestation were more likely to die sooner as compared to mothers to had a healthy score on the scale – 18.5 to 24.9. The risk increases with an increase in the mother’s BMI. Researchers found that mothers who had a BMI of 30 to 34.9 – who are described as obese, and those who had a BMI of over 40, defined as severely obese, were 10% and 40% more likely to die sooner. Researchers also found that maternal obesity accounts for 5% of cases of SUID per year. And if eliminated, the same can reduce cases significantly. But what is curious is that researchers are unaware of why this occurs.
Researchers also discovered that this group of mothers was more likely to suffer from sleep apnoea, a condition characterised by intermittent breaks during sleep resulting in choking sounds and snoring. It was also known to restrict fetal growth similar to maternal smoking, a risk factor for SUID. Experts also found that maternal obesity can spike SUID risk while sharing the bed, but there is less evidence to back the claim.
The study was published in JAMA Pediatrics. Experts wrote that maternal obesity must be part of the list of known SUID risk factors. With its rates increasing, it can help researchers identify the potential causes linked to the association. It was also known that children born with low birthweight or premature were at a higher risk of complications that may occur in obese or overweight pregnant women. To lower the odds, experts recommended putting a firm mattress in the cot, and not sharing a bed with the baby if one parent smokes. Weight loss during pregnancy, however, is not advised.
What are the risks associated with maternal obesity?
The risks associated with maternal obesity are:
UTI
Hypertension
Sleep apnoea
Gestational diabetes
Preeclampsia
Haemorrhage
Premature birth
According to experts, babies born to mothers who have a high BMI before pregnancy and during gestation were more likely to die sooner as compared to mothers to had a healthy score on the scale – 18.5 to 24.9. The risk increases with an increase in the mother’s BMI. Health News Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
