The obesity epidemic is growing worldwide and in the UK this is perpetuated with a third of women classified as overweight/obese in 2020. Many of these woman are of childbearing age and go on to have high risk pregnancies which are often complicated by gestational or pre-existing (type 2 diabetes mellitus (GDM, T2DM). Bariatric surgery is the most successful treatment of sustainable weight loss and is associated with a reduction in rates of GDM, pre-eclampsia, delivery of large babies but increased risk of delivery of small babies and preterm delivery.
The aims of the study are to investigate the maternal and fetal/neonatal, biophysical and biochemical, intra-uterine environment and postnatal profile of pregnancies:
1. affected by maternal obesity and/or GDM/T2DM compared to pregnancies with normal maternal body mass index (BMI). 2. with previous maternal bariatric surgery compared to pregnancies without previous bariatric surgery but matched for maternal pre-surgery and early pregnancy BMI.
Pregnant women with normal size (BMI <30)
Pregnant women with obesity (BMI ≥30)
Pregnant women with glucose disorders
Pregnant women with previous bariatric surgery
Pregnant women less than 18 years of age
Pregnant women with twins/triplets