[Obesity and pregnancy].

Generally, obesity represents a risk factor for pregnancy and birth. Already the conception rate is lowered. If pregnancy occurs, there is an increased abortion rate and an increase of neural tube defects. The efficiency of prenatal diagnosis is decreased by obesity. In obese women pregnancy is more frequently associated with complications such as chronic hypertension, gestosis, disturbances of carbohydrate metabolism, liver- and cardiac dysfunction. Central obesity has the highest risk probability. Also during birth the risk of complications is dependent upon the degree of obesity. This applies to the whole delivery process, operative deliveries and the perinatal mortality. Operative delivery by cesarean section is associated with a higher complication rate compared with pregnant women with normal weight. The postpartal course of body weight has to be controlled particularly in obese women.