Research shows that pregnant women with obesity are at increased risk of pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes mellitus, hypertension, preeclampsia, cesarean delivery and postpartum weight retention, says lead author Dr. Hutcheon, Assistant Professor for the Department of Obstetrics amp; Gynecology at the University of British Columbia. Similarly, children born to pregnant women with obesity face higher risks of prematurity, stillbirth, congenital anomalies, macrosomia with possible birth injury and childhood obesity. These known risks reinforce the need to closely monitor weight gain during pregnancy for women with obesity, which reduces risks and can lead to better outcomes.