Babies born to obese mothers are at “higher risk of sudden and unexpected infant death”

HEALTHY babies born to overweight mothers are more likely to die unexpectedly in the first year of life.

One study looked at rates of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) – which has no obvious cause.

It often happens when the baby is sleeping, giving it the nickname “crib death.”

Researchers at the University of Washington analyzed 18 million babies born in the US between 2015 and 2019, about 16,500 of whom died from SUID.

Babies born to mothers with a high BMI before – and therefore during – pregnancy were more likely to die suddenly than babies born to healthy-sized mothers with a BMI of 18.5-24.9.

The odds increased with the mother’s BMI.

In mothers with a BMI of 30 to 34.9, defined as obese, or over 40 years of age, defined as severely obese, the chances increased by 10% and almost 40%, respectively.

The researchers said maternal obesity may be responsible for five percent of SUID cases per year.

Therefore, if the risk were eliminated, it could have resulted in approximately 175 fewer cases of SUID per year in the US.

They don’t have an explanation for the link.

However, they discussed that obese mothers are more likely to have sleep apnea, which occurs when breathing stops intermittently during sleep, causing snoring and choking sounds.

This, they said, can restrict fetal growth in a similar way to maternal smoking (a known risk factor for SUID).

It was also noted that other studies have suggested that maternal obesity increases SUID during bed sharing, but that the evidence in this regard is weak.

The authors wrote in the paper, published in JAMA Pediatrics: “Maternal obesity should be added to the list of known risk factors for SUID.

“With increasing rates of maternal obesity, research must identify potential causal mechanisms for this association.”

Around 200 babies in the UK and 3,500 in the US suffer from SUID every year, making it rare.

Babies born prematurely or with low birth weight are known to be at greater risk – complications that are more likely to occur in pregnant mothers who are overweight or obese.

Although the exact cause is not understood, parents can help prevent SUID with safe sleeping measures, such as placing a firm mattress in the crib and not sharing a bed with the baby if a parent smokes.

Losing weight during pregnancy is not recommended by the NHS.

It says: “If you are obese, generally defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater, and are pregnant, do not try to lose weight during pregnancy. This will not reduce the chance of complications and may not be safe .

“The best way to protect the health of you and your baby is to attend all prenatal appointments. This is so that your midwife, doctor and any other healthcare professional can help with any problems you may face and take steps to prevent or control them.