An obstetrician in Newfoundland says the rise in obesity in the province is leading to an increase in problems during pregnancy, including a higher miscarriage rate, higher cesarean section rate and more instances of diabetes.

Dr. Terry O'Grady, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Memorial University in St. John's, says 30 per cent of pregnant women in Newfoundland and Labrador are obese, and women have to get themselves to a healthy weight before conceiving.

"We're so concerned about this that we're trying to get the message to women that one of the major things you can do when you're thinking about  if you want to get pregnant is to get your weight to a healthy range," O'Grady says.

Complicated cesarean sections, with infections and increased blood loss, and difficulty breastfeeding after birth, are also a risk in obese women.

O'Grady says she sees women who have trouble conceiving because of their weight as well.

"What we recommend is that every pregnancy is a planned pregnancy and you should get your weight into a healthy range before you attempt pregnancy," O'Grady says. "That doesn't mean we expect everybody to be skinny and have a body mass index in the perfect range, but certainly in somewhere close to the healthy range."

A healthy body mass index, or BMI, is considered to be between 20 and 25. The BMI is calculated by dividing a person's weight by the square of their height.

O'Grady says infertility problems and complications during pregnancy are common once a woman's BMI goes over 35.