&NA;In reviewing maternal mortality in Minnesota over the last 10‐year period, obesity proved to be a major high‐risk factor to the parturient. In the following report 12% of the study group weighed over 200 1b in the nonpregnant state. Pulmonary embolism was the leading cause of death in the obese group. Obstetricians are encouraged to recognize the possible complications that obesity poses in the pregnancy period.