Can being obese cause complications for a woman during pregnancy?

Definitely. Women who are obese are more likely to develop complications of pregnancy such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia or hypertensive disease during pregnancy, preterm birth, growth abnormalities of the baby. Most importantly, they're at increased risk to have a baby die before it's time to be born or have a stillbirth.

In addition, obese women are more likely to have a cesarean delivery. Unfortunately, if they're obese and they have a cesarean delivery, they're at an increase risk for surgical complications such as wound infections or even blood clots after surgery.