Being overweight or obese before and during pregnancy is the most reliable predictor of a woman’s risk of giving birth to a large baby, which can increase the chances of cesarean section and other complications during delivery, a new study says. The Canadian study of 472 women also found that elevated levels of blood glucose (sugar) and fats had little effect on the risk of having a big baby. A large baby is defined as a newborn whose weight is in the 90th percentile or above on Canadian fetal growth charts, or more than 8.8 pounds.
