Obesity in pregnancy: addressing the issues at the booking appointment

The recently published Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE) report, Maternal Obesity in the UK: Findings from a National Project, has provided new information on how often we are caring for women who have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or more, who these women are, the complications and consequences associated with obesity during pregnancy and the preparedness of maternity services to meet these women's needs. Focusing on booking, this article highlights some of the study's key recommendations and discusses the implications for midwives. Accurate calculation of BMI, discussion of dietary advice including supplementation, risk assessment and referral on are all considerations for this consultation.