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Considering pregnancy? Slim down first

The fatter a pregnant woman is, the higher her risk for stillbirth, a new analysis shows.
 
Stillbirth is a relatively rare occurrence even for obese women, but the nation's epidemic of unhealthy weight is intensifying concern about this known risk factor for fetal death.
 
The latest analysis, done by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health, found that the heaviest women were almost twice as likely as lean ones to have stillbirths caused by high blood pressure, certain placental diseases, fetal abnormalities, and umbilical cord problems. The numbers clearly showed the link: For every 1000 births, the rate of stillbirths was about 8 for lean women, 11 for overweight women, 14 for obese women, and 17 for severely overweight.
 
The researchers say obese women should be closely monitored for high blood pressure and other complications – and counseled to try to lose weight before becoming pregnant.
 
The abstract of the study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition can be found here.

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