Influence of Excessive Maternal Weight in Pregnancy on Mother’s and Newborn Health

Abstract

Excessive weight gain during pregnancy is associated with higher risks of complications in the mother and in the newborn. We carried out this work, the objective of which was to study the influence of excessive maternal weight gain during pregnancy. This was a prospective study carried out in Dakar over a period of 5 months. We included all women with a normal body mass index in early pregnancy. These parturients were divided into two groups: the first group consisted of women whose weight gain during pregnancy was normal between 11.5 and 16 kg and the second group were those who had an excessive weight gain greater than 16 kg. We analyzed maternal data and neonatal parameters. During the period, 194 women had a normal weight gain (PNP) and 104 an excessive weight gain (PEP), i.e., a prevalence of PEP of 10.5%. There were no differences in the two groups for marital status, geographic origin, level of education, drinking habits, maternal size and pathologies during pregnancy (p>0.05). On the other hand, maternal age, parity and absence of a professional activity were significantly associated with excessive weight gain during pregnancy. Regarding neonatal data, we did not note any significant difference with regard to gender, trophicity, Apgar score, stillbirth, postnatal transfer and neonatal mortality between the 2 groups.