Delivery of the Obese Gravida.

Obesity in pregnancy confers morbidity to both the mother and neonate. Obese women are at increased risk of cesarean delivery, operative vaginal delivery, and failed trial of labor after cesarean delivery. In addition to impacting the mode of delivery, obesity is associated with hemorrhage, infection, and thromboembolic complications in the peripartum period. The risk of these complications increases with increasing maternal body mass index. In this chapter, we discuss evidence-based strategies to mitigate these risks and to manage complications that occur at the time of delivery in obese parturients.