Yes, fat people can get pregnant and have healthy babies, but being overweight or obese can make conception harder and increase risks during pregnancy, impacting fertility, ovulation, and the success of treatments like IVF, though many factors affect pregnancy, and a healthy weight improves chances. Excess body fat can disrupt hormones, leading to irregular periods and ovulation issues, but weight-neutral care, healthy habits, and small weight loss (around 5%) before conception can significantly boost fertility.
How could obesity affect my baby? Having a high BMI during pregnancy has been linked to higher risks of various health conditions for a baby, including: Growth troubles in a fetus called fetal growth restriction. Conditions present at birth, also called congenital conditions.
Ideal weight for conception varies
The ideal weight for conception depends on how tall you are. Your body mass index (BMI) is a number based on your height and weight. The healthy BMI range is between 18.5 and 24.9. Adults with a BMI between 25 and 29 are considered overweight and a BMI over 30 indicates obesity.
Being overweight or obese may affect your fertility. This means that it may make it harder to get pregnant. Bringing your BMI down before you get pregnant, even by one or two points, will help reduce your risk of complications.
The latest recommendations suggest that obese pregnant women should gain between 5.0 and 9.1 kg during the pregnancy period, and weight loss is discouraged. However, observational studies indicate that some obese pregnant women, especially those who are heavier, lose weight during pregnancy.
Compared with normal weight in women, overweight (OR, 1.49 [95% CI, 1.12-1.98]) and obesity (OR, 1.44 [95% CI, 1.00-2.08]) were associated with increased odds of miscarriage.
If you are overweight or obese:
Being overweight may not increase your risk of having problems with ovulation, but obesity (BMI greater than 30) increases the risk of having abnormal ovulation and menstrual cycles. Obesity makes it more likely that it will take longer for you to get pregnant.
Suboptimal conditions during the oocyte maturation stage can negatively impact further embryo development [31]. Obesity may affect oocyte competence and maturation through alterations in various hormones, particularly those hormones that trigger oocyte maturation.
Although being overweight may make it more difficult to conceive, about 25% of pregnant women in the United States are obese. That alone is proof that you can become pregnant despite extra fat and the hormone disruption it may cause.
Infertility in women
Scientists have theorized that a low waist-to-hip ratio is associated with heightened fertility. That is, women with an hourglass figure are more likely to be able to conceive a child.
Generally speaking a “normal” female BMI is 18 - 25 but because being too light can impact a person's ability to conceive, the ideal range for hopeful parents is 20 - 25.
Individuals are usually considered morbidly obese if their weight is more than 80 to 100 pounds above their ideal body weight. A BMI above 40 indicates that a person is morbidly obese and therefore a candidate for bariatric surgery.
In general, overweight and obese women may need additional encouragement to initiate breastfeeding and to continue breastfeeding during the infant's first year.
“Women with a BMI of over 40—may not gain any weight in their pregnancy,” Henderson says. (More on this below.) While weight loss during pregnancy isn't recommended, it's still possible for you to find yourself losing weight while pregnant, even if it's not intentional.
Key Factors Affecting Egg Quality
A nutritious diet high in antioxidants and healthy fats can enhance egg quality; while smoking and excessive alcohol intake can have detrimental effects. Environmental factors, including exposure to pollutants and chemicals, can harm reproductive health.
A new study finds that weight loss does not help women who are obese become pregnant. Women who are obese and struggling to become pregnant are often advised to lose weight, but a new study finds no fertility benefits from weight loss.
Yes. If you are obese or morbidly obese, this can have a negative impact on your fertility due to changes in hormone levels. This can affect the health and viability of the eggs and can also lead to issues with the health of the uterine lining.
Obesity increases your risk of miscarriage. A person is obese when they have a body mass index (BMI) of over 30. You can check your BMI using the healthy weight calculator. If you're pregnant, your midwife or doctor may be able to tell you your BMI.
Waiting and seeing your pregnant belly expand is an expected aspect of pregnancy, but your stomach may not appear as you thought if you're a plus-sized woman. Many plus-size expecting moms have a B-belly, or a double belly, which causes them to be self-conscious about their baby bulge when they should be joyful.
Weight loss is usually not recommended during pregnancy. If you are already pregnant and overweight or obese, limiting your weight gain might be recommended. Talk with your healthcare provider before trying to lose weight during pregnancy. They can go over your recommended weight gain, nutrition, and exercise.
Get Regular Exercise
Regular, moderate exercise during pregnancy helps control your weight. Aim for at least two and a half hours per week of moderate exercise, or 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.