Maternal weight gain in women with good pregnancy outcomes

Article Abstract:

Inadequate weight gain during pregnancy has been associated with low infant birth weight and infant death. A total weight gain of 20 to 30 pounds (9-14 kilograms) is recommended by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In an effort to establish acceptable guidelines for weight gain, particularly the upper limits, 4,674 healthy women having a good pregnancy outcome were studied. A good pregnancy outcome was defined as a normal vaginal delivery occurring between the 37th and 42nd week of pregnancy of an infant without any congenital abnormalities, who was born to a mother who did not experience a complication of pregnancy such as diabetes or high blood pressure. A small percentage of women (10 percent) had a good pregnancy outcome with a maternal weight gain of less than 22 pounds (10 kilograms). Most of the women (75 percent) gained more than 26 pounds (12 kilograms). Half of the women gained between 24 and 40 pounds (12 and 18 kg) and 80 percent gained between 22 and 46 pounds (10 and 21 kg). The average weight gain was associated with the mother's pre-pregnant body mass ratio (weight to height), previous pregnancy history and race. The largest difference in weight gain was seen in women who were overweight or obese. Asian women had the lowest average weight gain and Hispanic women had the highest weight gain. On the basis of these results it is clear that there is a wider range of weight gain associated with a good pregnancy outcome. Higher weight gain than currently recommended was associated with good pregnancy outcome. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Body weight

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Maternal weight gain and preterm delivery

Article Abstract:

Low-birth-weight infants (LBW), who weigh less that 5.5 pounds (2,500 grams) at birth, are at greater risk for fetal complications. LBW can result from a premature delivery or, in the case of a full-term pregnancy, from fetal growth retardation. A low maternal weight is also associated with poor fetal growth. A study of adolescent mothers reported that inadequate weight gain in the last trimester of pregnancy increased the risk for preterm delivery. The relationship between maternal weight and preterm delivery was studied in 2,163 women attending a prenatal nutrition project. A weight gain of less than 0.6 pounds (0.27 kg) per week was found in 37.3 percent of the mothers who delivered prematurely and 24.2 percent of the mother delivering at term. The risk for spontaneous preterm birth increased by 60 percent if the mother gained less than 0.6 pounds (0.27 kg) per week. Women who had a decrease in weight gain beginning after the 28th week of pregnancy and a total pregnancy low weight gain were more likely to have a preterm delivery. It is not known if low maternal weight gain caused preterm delivery since the mothers who delivered early were more likely to be younger, black and users of illicit drugs, which also contributes to premature labor. Although every attempt was made to adjust for these differences, there is a possibility that they may have affected the results. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Causes of, Pregnancy, Complications of, Pregnancy complications

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Small-for-gestational-age birth: maternal predictors and comparison with risk factors of spontaneous preterm delivery in the same cohort

Article Abstract:

Low birth weight is a major cause of newborn illness and death. It may be caused by prematurity or by intrauterine growth retardation, resulting in small-for-gestational age (SGA) infants. Public health programs aimed at decreasing the incidence of low birth weight infants are most effective when the factors underlying the problem are known. To better understand the maternal factors associated with SGA newborns, characteristics of 2,228 women who gave birth were evaluated. Of these women, 219 had SGA newborns. A triple risk of delivering a SGA infant was associated with smoking more than 10 cigarettes per day; high risk for SGA was also associated with a low weekly maternal weight gain. The SGA risk was doubled in women who were black, those who were underweight at the start of pregnancy, and in those who had high blood pressure during pregnancy. Asian ancestry, low maternal height, and first pregnancies were also associated with delivery of SGA infants. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Fetus, Behavior, Fetal growth retardation, Gestational age

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