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| Maternal deaths linked to obesity | Maternal deaths linked to obesity |
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| Obesity is the fastest growing cause of women dying in pregnancy or childbirth in the UK, a report shows. | Obesity is the fastest growing cause of women dying in pregnancy or childbirth in the UK, a report shows. |
| More than half the 295 women who died during or after pregnancy between 2003 and 2005 were overweight or obese. | More than half the 295 women who died during or after pregnancy between 2003 and 2005 were overweight or obese. |
| Experts say the number of deaths - from a total of two million pregnancies - is low but the trend is very worrying. | Experts say the number of deaths - from a total of two million pregnancies - is low but the trend is very worrying. |
| The Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths (CEMACH) report calls for more support and advice for obese women before and during pregnancy. | The Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths (CEMACH) report calls for more support and advice for obese women before and during pregnancy. |
| Obese pregnant women are probably at four or five times greater risk of suffering maternal death than a woman of normal weight - and the same for their babies dying Dr Gwyneth LewisMaternity tsar Calculate your BMI | Obese pregnant women are probably at four or five times greater risk of suffering maternal death than a woman of normal weight - and the same for their babies dying Dr Gwyneth LewisMaternity tsar Calculate your BMI |
| Gwyneth Lewis, CEMACH director and the government's maternity tsar, said the figures showed that childbirth was very safe in the UK. | Gwyneth Lewis, CEMACH director and the government's maternity tsar, said the figures showed that childbirth was very safe in the UK. |
| But she said the growing evidence of a link to obesity was a cause for concern. | But she said the growing evidence of a link to obesity was a cause for concern. |
| Graph: BMI at a glance | Graph: BMI at a glance |
| The figures suggest that a modest amount of extra weight in pregnancy carries little extra risk, but obesity poses a significant problem. | The figures suggest that a modest amount of extra weight in pregnancy carries little extra risk, but obesity poses a significant problem. |
| Fifteen per cent of the mothers who died were morbid or super-morbidly obese. | Fifteen per cent of the mothers who died were morbid or super-morbidly obese. |
| Dr Lewis said: "Obese pregnant women are probably at four or five times greater risk of suffering maternal death than a woman of normal weight - and the same for their babies dying." | Dr Lewis said: "Obese pregnant women are probably at four or five times greater risk of suffering maternal death than a woman of normal weight - and the same for their babies dying." |
| Nutrition advice | Nutrition advice |
| She is concerned many women are not aware of the risk associated with obesity. | She is concerned many women are not aware of the risk associated with obesity. |
| Overall, the UK has one of the lowest rates of maternal death in the world. | Overall, the UK has one of the lowest rates of maternal death in the world. |
| However, the death rate in the UK has begun to rise. In 2003-05 it stood at almost 13.95 per 100,000 births, up from 13.07 in 2000-02, and just 9.83 in 1985-87. | However, the death rate in the UK has begun to rise. In 2003-05 it stood at almost 13.95 per 100,000 births, up from 13.07 in 2000-02, and just 9.83 in 1985-87. |
| With obesity levels predicted to soar experts say it is vital that women are fully aware they should try to get to a healthy weight before trying to conceive. | With obesity levels predicted to soar experts say it is vital that women are fully aware they should try to get to a healthy weight before trying to conceive. |
| The report says excess weight not only puts a woman at risk of medical complications, it can mask symptoms and cause logistical problems. | The report says excess weight not only puts a woman at risk of medical complications, it can mask symptoms and cause logistical problems. |
| In one case, there was a delay in spotting that a woman was at risk of seizures, because a blood pressure cuff could not fit around her arm. | In one case, there was a delay in spotting that a woman was at risk of seizures, because a blood pressure cuff could not fit around her arm. |
| New equipment | New equipment |
| At the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead, consultant obstetricians are already seeing a shift in their clinics and delivery suites. | At the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead, consultant obstetricians are already seeing a shift in their clinics and delivery suites. |
| Dr Helene Brandon said around a third of the pregnant mothers they see are obese, and in an average year they care for several women with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 50. | Dr Helene Brandon said around a third of the pregnant mothers they see are obese, and in an average year they care for several women with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 50. |
| Dr Brandon's maternity unit has a new operating table | Dr Brandon's maternity unit has a new operating table |
| That would place those women in the highest risk category of super-morbidly obese. | That would place those women in the highest risk category of super-morbidly obese. |
| The maternity unit has had to buy a new operating table that can hold up to 40 stone (254kg) in weight. | The maternity unit has had to buy a new operating table that can hold up to 40 stone (254kg) in weight. |
| It is regularly in use, as around half of obese pregnant women end up having a Caesarean section. | It is regularly in use, as around half of obese pregnant women end up having a Caesarean section. |
| The operation usually requires at least one extra assistant for the surgeon to help manage the bulk of the patient. | The operation usually requires at least one extra assistant for the surgeon to help manage the bulk of the patient. |
| Dr Brandon said obese patients face higher risks of certain complications. | Dr Brandon said obese patients face higher risks of certain complications. |
| She said: "The most common ones are dangerously high blood pressure, heart disease such as angina which could cause a heart attack in pregnancy - and obese patients are much more prone to bleeding." | She said: "The most common ones are dangerously high blood pressure, heart disease such as angina which could cause a heart attack in pregnancy - and obese patients are much more prone to bleeding." |
| Struggle with weight | Struggle with weight |
| Several miles away on an estate in Jarrow one of her patients, Maria Thornton is working hard to reduce the risks to herself and her baby. | Several miles away on an estate in Jarrow one of her patients, Maria Thornton is working hard to reduce the risks to herself and her baby. |
| Maria is six months pregnant and weighs 19-and-a-half stone (124kg). | Maria is six months pregnant and weighs 19-and-a-half stone (124kg). |
| She has had a lifelong struggle with her weight, and had gastric band surgery several years ago. | She has had a lifelong struggle with her weight, and had gastric band surgery several years ago. |
| In her last pregnancy, Maria developed diabetes because of her weight, which brought home to her the risks to her own health from obesity. | In her last pregnancy, Maria developed diabetes because of her weight, which brought home to her the risks to her own health from obesity. |
| Although she is now well informed about the potential health problems Maria is shocked that obesity is emerging as a factor in maternal deaths. | Although she is now well informed about the potential health problems Maria is shocked that obesity is emerging as a factor in maternal deaths. |
| She said: "It is really quite scary. You know there are risks, but you don't think of them in terms of fatality - you kind of think it makes the pregnancy harder or you've got more obstacles to overcome. | She said: "It is really quite scary. You know there are risks, but you don't think of them in terms of fatality - you kind of think it makes the pregnancy harder or you've got more obstacles to overcome. |
| "But to hear that it can cost you your life at the end of the day is quite frightening." | "But to hear that it can cost you your life at the end of the day is quite frightening." |
| Now Maria is going several times a week to the sure start scheme in Perth Green to use the gym. | Now Maria is going several times a week to the sure start scheme in Perth Green to use the gym. |
| As a result of regular exercise she has only put on three pounds (1.36kg) in this pregnancy, following the medical advice that obese women should aim to maintain their weight. | As a result of regular exercise she has only put on three pounds (1.36kg) in this pregnancy, following the medical advice that obese women should aim to maintain their weight. |
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