Bigger WA mums face more risks
Almost one-quarter of pregnant women in WA are obese and face a higher risk of health complications, according to new figures.
The State's annual snapshot of mothers and babies shows for the first time the weight of women at their first antenatal appointment, with 53 per cent of the 33,393 women who gave birth in 2012 classified as pre-obese or obese.
One in 11 women had a severe or very severe increased risk of complications because of their size.
The WA Health Department's Mothers and Babies report shows 40 per cent of pregnant women had one or more pre-existing medical conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
One-third of women developed pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes, more so in obese women.
The caesarean rate was 34.6 per cent, up from 33.9 per cent in 2011, and while elective surgery rates were steady, those for emergency caesareans were still rising.
Caesarean rates were highest at St John of God Hospital in Murdoch, at 57 per cent, followed by Glengarry (49.6 per cent) and SJOG Subiaco (47.1 per cent).
The number of women who spontaneously went into labour without being induced or having a caesarean fell to 50 per cent.
Public health physician Teresa Ballestas said obesity rates in pregnant women reflected trends in the wider community.
"Women of healthy weight should not be scared about putting on weight during the pregnancy because that is normal, but it means that if you're obese and you get pregnant you may have a higher risk of developing complications," Dr Ballestas said. "It does show the importance of antenatal visits so the weight of expectant mums can be monitored."
The report shows 11.6 per cent of expectant mothers smoked, compared with 20.3 per cent of women of child-bearing age.
Smoking rates were higher in women born in New Zealand, teenage mums and Aboriginal women.
The perinatal death rate was 8.4 per 1000 babies, the lowest rate since 2007.
First-time mothers made up about 43 per cent of birthing women, with an average age of 28.
