(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Being overweight is associated with a higher risk for pregnancy complications, according to a new paper published this week.

According to the Public Affairs Committee of the Teratology Society, obese women face an increased risk of infertility, and, if they do become pregnant, they risk hypertension and gestational diabetes among other complications. Additionally, they are more likely to require a cesarean section and have higher medical costs.

The mothers aren't the only ones who are at risk. Babies of women with a body mass index of 30 or greater have twice the risk of having a child with complications. They are more likely to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care units and have a higher incidence of neural tube defects.

Researchers encourage women to make efforts to lose weight before attempting to get pregnant. The committee notes that women who are dieting should not attempt to conceive because of the importance of adequate nutrition for a developing fetus.

Another recommendation brought up by the positioning paper is that all parents should be educated about childhood nutrition. This includes the benefits of breastfeeding in preventing childhood obesity.

Among women between ages 20 and 39, more than half are overweight and close to one-third are obese.

The authors of the paper say, "Just as clinicians have been encouraged to counsel women who are pregnant or may become pregnant about folic acid, smoking cessation and avoidance of ethanol intake, the Public Affairs Committee recommends that clinicians counsel women about appropriate caloric intake and exercise."

SOURCE: Birth Defects Research Part A: Clinical and Molecular Tertaology, published online Feb. 3, 2006