Obesity, pregnancy, and left ventricular functioning during the third trimester

Obese patients may maintain normal cardiac function in the third trimester of pregnancy, although obesity leads to higher cardiac output, and pregnancy is an additional stressor. Echocardiographic study was done on eight healthy obese (150% of ideal body weight) women in the third trimester of pregnancy and compared with studies of 36 normal weight women in the third trimester. The left ventricle was enlarged in obese women, but not more than is found in healthy normal weight pregnant women. The ventricular walls were thicker in the obese group. Cardiac function was similar to that of normal weight women. These results may not apply to pregnant women of greater degree of obesity nor to women with medical problems affecting cardiac function.