Longitudinal anthropometric changes of pregnant women: dynamics and prediction

Abstract

ABSTRACT Pregnant women undergo rapid, non-linear changes in their anthropometry during the periods following gestation. However, the present market does not capture/incorporate these anthropometric changes in their manufacturing process, resulting in inadequate comfort and fit. This is primarily due to the lack of standard sizing chart for maternity wear that addresses the changes throughout pregnancy. The present study shows that 3D body scanning can serve as a robust technique to track anthropometric dynamics of pregnant women over long periods. Using multiple 3D body scans, the changes over a period of 6–39 weeks after gestation were tracked at locations of bust, waist and hip of 20 subjects, and found an average increase of 2.7, 8.8 and 3.3 in., respectively. Non-linear mathematical equations were formulated to accurately capture the changes in these locations and can provide measurement estimates for any week during pregnancy, with further generalisability towards additional body measurement locations.