Lords Darzi discusses the risks associated with obesity during pregnancy
June 13, 2008
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department of Health, Lord Darzi of Denham, this week told MPs that the Government was working to tackle the problems related to obesity during pregnancy. He spoke about the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health’s report ‘Saving Mothers’ Lives’, highlighting its finding in 2005 that thirty percent of mothers with stillbirths were classed as obese.
Lord Darzi stressed that prevention was a key method of tackling this issue and ensuring all women had sufficient access to maternity care so that they could have the right information and advice, as laid out in the Government’s ‘Maternity Matters’ policy. In addition, the Lord stated that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) would be publishing a toolkit in 2009 to enable each individual woman to have their risks and needs identified during pregnancy. With regards to prevention he stated that NICE would be developing guidelines on nutrition during pregnancy and also spoke of the value of children’s centres in providing advice on these issues.
Opening the debate, Baroness Rendell of Babergh discussed the threat obesity placed on expectant mothers and their children and the opportunity antenatal care provided in advising women on nutrition and similar.
Earl Howe, as Conservative Shadow Health Minister, highlighted the issues surrounding IVF treatment and obesity. He stated that there had been suggestions from the British Fertility Society and other organisations that a maximum BMI limit should be placed on those wanting IVF.
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Women and Equality, Baroness Thomas of Walliswood, also highlighted the increased costs to the NHS due to the long-term problems mothers and children would have that were linked to obesity. She agreed that preventative care was vital and stressed that the social aspects of the issue needed to be addressed as well as the medical. Baroness Tonge, Lib Dem Spokesperson, also said the Government needed to take a joined-up approach on children’s health and repeated the idea that community clinics and similar were important.
Entry Filed under: England, Maternity Services, Parliamentary update, Pregnancy and birth. Tags: BMI, Lord Darzi, Maternity Matters, NCT, obesity, pregnancy, stillbirths.
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1.
Ayesha | June 17, 2008 at 10:10 am
Maternal and child Health is of utmost importance.
Its startling to know that more than half a million women die in pregnancy and childbirth
every year – that’s one death every minute. I also came across a community on orkut which
represents the UN campaign against poverty of which child and maternal health is one of
the 7 major goals.http://www.orkut.co.in/Community.aspx?cmm=47234928
2.
scipta | February 5, 2009 at 11:10 am
Obesity can create lots of complications during pregnancy. It rises the risk of cesarean operation. Baby of obese mother has lower weight than baby of normal weight mother.
3.
winning craps systems | February 27, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Although gestational obesity is a growing problem and presents severe risks to both mother and baby, currently there is no national guidance for midwives on how to care for this increasing number of women. Women are repeatedly told not to drink alcohol while pregnant, or to drink it in very small quantities. It is now taken for granted that they should not smoke while pregnant, but obesity is not subject to similar condemnation, nor is a woman warned that she may be carrying too much weight for a safe pregnancy and satisfactory delivery.