With the dramatic rise in obesity among women of child-bearing age, this update on the latest knowledge of complications arising to obese women in pregnancy and birth covers an exhaustive range of issues, from macrosomia to miscarriage and fertility.

A dramatic and worldwide increase is occurring in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in women of childbearing age. Obese women carry a significant excess risk of a variety of serious complications during pregnancy, and in addition, maternal obesity predisposes to obesity in the offspring. This book provides a timely update on the latest knowledge on maternal obesity and pregnancy. A very wide range of issues are covered, including macrosomia and associated shoulder dystocia; the risk of miscarriage, malformations, and complications of pregnancy; the impact of hyperglycemia; clinical...