title: Caring for obese pregnant women.
abstract: Women who are overweight or obese during their childbearing years are at an increased risk for pregnancy-induced hypertension, gestational diabetes, labor induction, cesarean births, and failed vaginal birth after cesarean. During the postpartum, they experience increased rates of puerperal infection and decreased rates of breastfeeding initiation or continuation. Their infants are at higher risk for having congenital anomalies or being stillborn. Nurses can use this knowledge to adapt the care they provide and to encourage health-promoting behaviors.
authors: College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI 53202, USA. morin@uwm.edu
authors: Karen H
authors: KH
authors: Morin
authors: Lyn
authors: L
authors: Reilly
mesh_terms: D050110:Bariatric Surgery; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015399:Nursing Research; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000209:etiology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors