Is becoming pregnant while obese ethical?

[v2007]

You can also avoid being a drug addict, alcoholic or smoker but you ain't having a dig at those folk.

 

[Cloberella]

Sometimes you cant. Due to conditions. Not everyone over eats and doesnt exericise.

No condition forces you to be overweight it just makes it harder to manage.

 

[Cloberella]

You can aslo avoid being a drug addict or alcoholic or smoker but you aint having a dig at those folk.

I'm not having a dig at anyone- this paticular thread is about obesity- if I was starting a debate about drugs and alcohol then the content of this thread would be different. For the record- I think people who smoke, take drugs and drink excessively in pregnancy are irresponsable but thats an irrelevant point in this thread.

 

[Gbobs]

And for those that think this is an offensive thread- the title clearly stated what the content would be- and it is posted in the debating section of the board.

I was just about to post something similar - I don't know enough about the topic to post my views but it does seem that some people are being a bit over-sensitive. The OP hardly came on here and said that obese people shouldn't have children, she has opened a topic for debate on a debating forum based I presume on something she has read in the press etc

 

[Laura2919]

Sometimes you cant. Due to conditions. Not everyone over eats and doesnt exericise.

No condition forces you to be overweight it just makes it harder to manage.

I dont have a condition so I dont know but I am sure there is something. Every person is different, conditions affect people in different ways.

I dont think its fair to say who should and shouldnt have a child based on weight. I know its better to be slim but not everyone can be.

 

[v2007]

What about ladies who are severely underweight who become pregnant??

For example Anorexia etc?

The strain on their bodies can be just bad.

You call it starting a debate, but you are just singling out 1 group of Mums to be!!!

 

[andella95]

Bringing up other conditions such as a blood disorder and Spina Bifida is irrelevant because you did not choose to have these conditions and you can't avoid having them. You can avoid being obese.

Saying that you personally had no problems while you were pregnant I also think is an irrelevant point as you cannot have known this before you got pregnant- the increased risks were still there.

And for those that think this is an offensive thread- the title clearly stated what the content would be- and it is posted in the debating section of the board.

Actually, your premise is flawed. Other conditions that may cause pregnancy complications ARE relevant. Who cares if you can avoid them, if it's still something that places mother and baby at larger risk? Isn't that the reason you gave regarding why it might not be ethical for obese women to get pregnant? There would be an increased risk of complications? You can't single out obese women on this - the real question has to be is it ethical to become pregnant if you have an increased risk.

The truth is that the VAST MAJORITY of overweight and obese women have healthy pregnancies and heathy babies. I think it's unethical to make women of any size feel guilty and to try to imply that they are doing something morally wrong or unethical by having a family, because, overall, the chances of having any problems are still very low.

 

[andella95]

Not sure why people say its an offensive thread, this section is for debating so will be some opposite views

It's offensive to me as it would be if the question were asking if it were unethical for a black person, jewish person, lesbian, single woman, atheist, poor, no college degree, over 30, over 35, has to use assisted conception...the list goes on.

How anyone could even imply that one's weight makes it unethical to become pregnant is beyond me, although I realize there are a lot of close-minded folks about there who think they know about statistics and really all they're doing is quoting from some already biased news report.

EDITED TO ADD:
I guess what I really want to say is this: I don't feel it's morally or ethically responsible, on a site dedicated to ttc, pregnancy, and parenting, to single out ANY group of women and imply that it is unethical for them to become pregnant. I would think this site, even the debate section, would be welcoming to all. Asking questions such as this, which I'm pretty sure the OP knew would be hurtful to some people is not welcoming, positive, or beneficial to anyone.

 

[trumpetbum]

I think it is a difficult one as BMI is not a particularly good indicator of weight related health compared to say the Ashwell calculator for women and there is of course a difference between being fat, obese or morbidly obese.
I am wholly prochoice and therefore would never judge or say a woman shouldn't choose to be pregnant but I do think if someone is very overweight and unhealthy then it is advisable for them to work on improving their health before TTC for their own sake and that of their baby.

 

[Aidan's Mummy]

If a person is morbidly obese I think they should try to loose weight. As there is a increased risk of complications xx

 

[Raggydoll]

Surely the important thing is being a good parent.
You can be totally healthy and still face complications.

Why not ask the same question about people who are seriously under weight?

 

[Raggydoll]

Sometimes you cant. Due to conditions. Not everyone over eats and doesnt exericise.

No condition forces you to be overweight it just makes it harder to manage.

Under active Thyroid can make you overweight.

 

[bky]

So, since your concern is apparently health, do you think that anyone not having a full physical and blood panel before TTC is being irresponsible or unethical?

I just find this thread dumb as there are many issues outside of overeating which can lead to overweight.

 

[mummy3]

I wouldn't say getting pregnant whilst obese was unethical, maybe unwise?

Sure there are many conditions such as hormone irregularities that increase a persons chances of being obese but 99.9% of obese people can do something about it, although that is likely to be much harder if you are dealing with a chronic condition. You don't know your pregnancy is going to be uneventful, statistics alone show that getting as near to an ideal bmi as possible makes this more likely.

Also yes this isn't just directed to obese women, maybe the title should have been anyone with an out of normal bmi? I am underweight, even now at 23 weeks pregnant I have a bmi under 20, yet I have no eating disorder, I have awhat was originally considered a hyperthyroid but has now been found to be a problem with my pituatory. It was caused by childbirth with my first. So I know that it is not always possible to get to that range but I do know how important it is. I try so hard to keep myself gaining weight, pregnancy helps and my babies have all been big but all preemies. My weight may have something to do with this but it may not.

I know for me to get in that range is impossible, if I waited I most likely would only have 1 child, not expecting #4. I know the risks though which is why I work so hard, and seek the support of many specialists.

If you can do something about it you should, and if you can't, seek further medical help to get yourself as healthy as possible

This is completely rambled btw, im knackered lol really hope I don't upset anyone, these things are very emotional

 

[Aidan's Mummy]

I think if yiu have any weight problem that can INCREASE the risk of complications then those issues should try to be overcome
Yes all pregnancies have risks but increasing that risk and not trying you reduce it is a little silly
Xx

 

[Laura2919]

I dont think being in the normal bracket with regards to bmi makes you less likely to have problems in pregnancy. My friend is a size 8 gorgeous figure she has problems in both her pregnancies and she is the correct bmi for her weight and height. I think its based on the person individually not their weight. Just because someone is over weight doesnt mean they are gonna have a pregnacy with complications.

 

[Aidan's Mummy]

Being underweight or overweight can be classed as a high risk pregnancy x

 

[smokey]

I think if yiu have any weight problem that can INCREASE the risk of complications then those issues should try to be overcome
Yes all pregnancies have risks but increasing that risk and not trying you reduce it is a little silly
Xx

I agree I only realy fell pregnant after loosing weight but I think there is a slight differance between saying somthing like "be smarter about it and lose a bit of weight" and "your unethical to fall pregnant or have a baby because your overweight"

If your obese and fall pregnant then what? is the alternative better for everyone?

On a side note none of my dr's, MW, HV anyone ever even mentioned anything to me about me weight and it being a problem with my pregnancy so at 35 bmi my situation was obviously alot more commen then not.
Only person that did say anything was the sonographer that mentioned the scan may not be as clear because of it.

 

[lauzie84]

On a side note none of my dr's, MW, HV anyone ever even mentioned anything to me about me weight and it being a problem with my pregnancy so at 35 bmi my situation was obviously alot more commen then not.
Only person that did say anything was the sonographer that mentioned the scan may not be as clear because of it.

I was the same - no one mentioned my weight at all, and my BMI is just over 35. xx

 

[aliss]

Oh dear, I find nothing wrong with an obese woman becoming pregnant. I am SO SICK of people looking down on the obese. Yes, being obese puts you at higher risk of certain complications. So do many things. I think every woman, no matter what her risk, should attempt to reduce them. Many women want to lose weight before TTC, just like many want to quit smoking, drinking, skydiving (lol jk), get her bloodwork in order, whatever her risk is. I have personally made plans to reduce my risks by planning elective C-section and researching it before TTC.

I'm at risk of a repeat shoulder dystocia for my next birth, which can kill a baby in delivery, does that make it unethical for me to TTC? No? Is that because I'm slim with an athletic body so my risk is not immediately obvious? Hmm...