Mom’s obesity tied to higher risk of preemies

By Genevra Pittman NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Pregnant women who are overweight or obese are more likely to give birth prematurely, according to a new study from Sweden. Researchers found that link was strongest for babies born the earliest – between 22 and 27 weeks – and therefore most at risk of complications. “This study suggests that there is a direct association between maternal overweight and obesity during pregnancy and the risk of preterm birth,” said Dr. Muktar Aliyu, who has studied pregnancy risks at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee. …