In cases of obese pregnant women, the incidence of toxaemia of pregnancy, mallocatiob of foetus, unbearable pain and post natal bleeding is very high. Obese women generally do not have normal deliveries. Either a forceps delivery or a caessarian operation is required. Besides this mother's life is generally in danger for a few days following the delivery. Those women who have a family history of diabates, heart-disease or obesity need to take extra precautions during their pregnancy.

Being underweight prior to conception is no gurantee that obesity will not develop during pregnancy. on the other hand, obesity at the onset of pregnancy gives rise to an increased risk of developing complications mentioned earlier.

A way to determine the appropriate weight gain for pregnancy is by using the Body Mass Index (BMI). The BMI is calculated by dividing your body weight (in kilograms) by the square of your height (in meters).

1Kg = 2.2 pounds and 1m = 39 inches.

According to the standard set in 1990 by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences,15 a woman with a low BMI (less than 19.8) should gain a total of 12.5–18 kg (27.5–39.7 pounds) during pregnancy; a woman with a normal BMI (19.8–26) should gain a total of 11.5–16 kg (25.4–35.3 pounds) during pregnancy; a woman with a high BMI (greater than 26.0–29.0) should gain a total of 7–11.5 kg (15.4–25.4 pounds) during pregnancy.

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