Introduction: Obesity is growing very fast in the developed world and the growing obesity of women in childbearing age is alarming. The main reasons are unhealhty eating patterns including high-calorie food products with low nutrition values. Purpose: The purpose of this bachelor thesis is to define the term of obesity during pregnancy and how maternal obesity is connected to the obesity of a child, negative outcomes of a pregnancy and labour and congenital defects. Methods: We used a descriptive method with an analysis of different studies and academical articles. We found literature via COBISS.SI and other foreign databases avaliable via DiKUL (MEDLINE, CINAHL, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane). Qualitative meta synthesis of scientific sudies was made with the scale of the authors Eccles and Mason, where stage 1 has the highest value of evidence. Results: Meta synthesis showed that obesity before pregnancy and excessive weight gain influence child’s obesity later in life. Maternal obesity and increased weight gain also increase the risks for congenital defects of a child. Discussion and conclusion: More research has to be done on the subject of maternal obesity and it’s influence on the health of both children and mothers. Midwifes, educating young and pregnant women about appropriate weight before pregnancy, help reducing the occurancy of overweight obesity during pregnancy.
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