The Lancet medical journal reported an increase of 15 to 25 percent in babies who weigh 8 pounds 13 ounces and up in the past 20 to 30 years in developed countries.
While big babies may run in the family for some women, research confirms most giant babies born worldwide are due to the increasing number of obese, and sometimes diabetic, moms.
The Lancet journal reported an increase of 15 to 25 percent in babies who weigh 8 pounds 13 ounces and up in the past 20 to 30 years in developed countries. Developing countries such as China are also seeing bigger babies, along with quickly growing obesity rates.
High sugar levels in pregnant women cause many high risks. Babies can have nerve or brain damage, broken bones, trouble breathing, or low blood sugar after birth. Then later, they may develop obesity, diabetes, or cancer. Dr. Irina Burd from Johns Hopkins Medicine says, “there are epigenetic changes that program them for the rest of their lives.”
Besides obesity-related risks, women can be injured if birthing naturally, or suffer from a host of C-section risks. Many U.S. doctors push C-sections for various reasons, good and bad, which explains why the U.S. has lower birth weights despite the large obesity rates.
St. Louis University’s Dr. Raul Artal recommends no more than a 10-pound weight gain during pregnancy for obese woman to lower the risk of gestational diabetes and having a large baby.
