European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

PRE-PREGNANCY BODY MASS INDEX AND GESTATIONAL WEIGHT GAIN AS RISK FACTORS ON MATERNAL AND BIRTH OUTCOMES

Tebbani Fouzia*, Oulamara Hayet and Agli Abdenacer

ABSTRACT

Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) have been reported to be associated with pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of pre pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain on maternal and birth outcomes. A prospective and a longitudinal cohort study was conducted among pregnant women who had attended antenatal centers in Constantine, Algeria, between 2013 and 2015. 200 pregnant women aged 19 to 41 years old were followed for 9 months of pregnancy. They underwent body weight measurement during routine examination at first, second and third trimester. Baby birth weight also measured after delivery. Data included age, parity and maternal outcomes. Results showed that mean BMI was 27.3 ± 4.7 kg/m2 and mean GWG was 8.9 ± 5.4 kg. Of all subjects, 33% were in a normal weight range, which left 41 and 26% classified as overweight and obese before pregnancy. Among these subjects, only 27.5% of women had gained the recommended amount of weight, with 48.5% gaining less than recommended, and 24% gaining more than recommended by the IOM. The average birth weight of infants born to inadequate GWG women was lower than that of those born to adequate GWG women (3232±564 g vs 3470±464 g, p=0.04). The risk of gestational hypertension (p=0.0006) and diabetes (p=0.04) increased steadily with pre-pregnancy BMI. Also, the risk of hypertension increased with excessive GWG (p<0.0001). Conclusion; the effects of gestational weight gain on pregnancy outcomes depend on the woman’s pre-pregnancy BMI.

Keywords: Pre-pregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain, maternal outcomes, birth outcomes.