Exploring the Associations Between Women's Overweight at the Beginning of Pregnancy and Postpartum Complications in the Context of SDG 3: Ensuring Healthy Lives and Well-Being for All

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between overweight recorded in parturient women at the beginning of pregnancy and the occurrence of postpartum complications at the Souissi maternity hospital in Rabat. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective descriptive study conducted over 9-month from March to November 2022, at the Souissi maternity hospital in Rabat. Including women who followed their pregnancy, were either normal or overweight at the beginning of pregnancy and had an uncomplicated pregnancy. Results: A total of 1,145 parturient women were recruited. With a response rate of 81.65% and using a mixed questionnaire, the number of surveyed women was 935, subdivided into two groups. Normal-weight (637 cases) and overweight parturient women (298 cases). This study showed the existence of associations between overweight at the start of pregnancy, recorded in the parturient surveyed, and the term of delivery (P=0.033), the course of delivery (P=0.031), the mode of delivery (P=0.005), the postpartum complications as urinary tract infection (P=0.002), breast engorgement (P=0.001), return of hemorrhagic layers and baby-blues (P=0.005). Discussion: This study found that 68.13% of surveyed women had a normal BMI, while 31.87% were overweight at the beginning of their pregnancy. They were more likely to have overdue deliveries (70.80% vs. 25.27% for normal-weight) and dystocic deliveries (25.50% vs. 4.24%). Overweight status was also correlated with higher rates of urinary tract infection 8.505 and 2.381 time and breast engorgement 16.331 and 3.556 time respectively in the early and last postpartum period.