It’s a birth that the medical teams at Arlington Memorial Hospital (Texas) are not ready to forget. Markie Smith, 35, gave birth on December 18 to a beautiful little boy weighing 12 pounds and 10.5 ounces… or nearly 6 kilos. An extraordinary weight, which raises questions. Dr. Odile Bagot, obstetrician-gynecologist, deciphers for True Medical the causes of this overweight, better known as “fetal macrosomia”.
An XXL baby
According to the Daily MailMarkie Smith expected her third child to be pretty “hefty.” But she never imagined for a single moment that her son would be among the heaviest newborns ever recorded in the establishment from birth.
Indeed, upon arrival, the infant looked like a three-month-old baby. His mother says she has never held a newborn baby like this.heavy” in his arms, comparing the weight of his son to that of a bag of bricks. It is true that the little boy, chubby as can be, does not lack curves: Canyon has numerous folds of fat, particularly at the level of his neck.
A look similar to that “of a little sumo wrestler“, underlines the young mother in the columns of the British newspaper.
And although the little boy is fortunately in great shape (just like his mother), he was placed as a precaution in the neonatal intensive care unit, due to his unusual size.
Fetal macrosomia: what causes?
According to Dr. Odile Bagot, Canyon’s case is not isolated. In France, nearly one in six babies is affected by fetal macrosomia, a term which refers to newborns weighing 4 kg or more. A figure which is still rising in the United Kingdom, reaching 10% (one in ten babies are affected by this condition).
However, if gestational diabetes remains the main cause of fetal macrosomia, sugar, consumed in excessive quantities, also influences the weight of the fetus.
“When we consume too much sugar, the pancreas secretes more insulin, which passes into the maternal bloodstream. The insulin then crosses the placenta which stimulates the baby’s growth. It is therefore not directly the sugar which makes the baby gain weight, but rather the excess insulin, which acts as a growth factor”, recognizes the obstetrician-gynecologist.
Another factor responsible for fetal macrosomia: obesity.
“Fast sugars, sugary drinks and processed products are the main culprits“says the gynecologist.”In obese women, diabetes is also more common because sugar, generally used in the muscle cell, can no longer be properly burned when the cells are invaded by adipocytes (cells allowing the storage of fat in the body).“, she explains.
A “sugar-free” diet is recommended
To prevent the risk of overweight and gestational diabetes, resting the pancreas before pregnancy is therefore essential, by eliminating fast sugars (cereal bars, jams, but also pasta, bread and non-whole grain rice).
“This strategy should obviously not be started the day you discover your pregnancy. Ideally, you should implement this new low glycemic index eating routine at least 3 months before having a baby,” warns the obstetrician.
In this context, a preconception consultation is recommended. Dr Odile Bagot also invites all pregnant women who are overweight to continue this diet once the pregnancy is over.