Shedding an extra five or ten pounds before swimsuit season is the only weight challenge they face. For many others; however, living with morbid obesity has likely led to an eroded self-esteem, while also putting them at an increased risk of developing a variety of serious health complications.

Our goal as anesthesiologists is to both alleviate pain and to keep the patient and baby safe. We need to anticipate any complications that could jeopardize the safety of the patient and baby on the day of delivery. We also want patients to be aware of these potential challenges in advance so they are not caught by surprise if something changes during delivery.