Pregnancy is a good reason for several women to consume large quantities of food because either it is still a tradition in their environments, or it is a chance to give themselves some rest from the nightmare of observing the weight or the shape of their bodies. This can be a real problem when the pregnant woman is already obese. On the other hand, the weight gained through pregnancy could be permanent and might lead to real obesity. In other words, there is a complicated relationship between pregnancy and obesity.

To begin with, the obese mother-to-be is more susceptible to minor and serious problems and illnesses than the pregnant woman whose weigh is normal. For example, she is more likely to suffer from heartburn and headache. Besides, she has a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. Furthermore, her chance of delivering her baby the normal way is less. Consequently, she will be subject to Cesarean section and its complications.

On the other hand, many pregnant women gain so many pounds that it is impossible to lose them easily after giving birth to their babies. Or they may gain extra weight while they are nursing the babies since breast feeding makes them feel hungrier. However, the problem is going to be worse if the mother is already overweight because some studies showed that the group of obese mothers-to-be is the group that is most likely to gain much weight through pregnancy.

To reduce the pregnancy complications resulted from obesity, overweight mothers are advised to have such a healthy diet that, on one hand, prevents them from gaining excessive weight, and on the other hand, provides them with the nutritious elements they need to maintain healthy pregnancies because the lack of Folic Acid, for example, may be one of the causes of the neural tube defects.