Maternal Anthropometry Research Articles

Ethnic and environmental factors affecting fetal growth in Papua New Guinea

We studied 738 live singleton births in Papua New Guinea to examine the contribution of ethnic origin and environmental factors to birth weight and gestation. Maternal history, examination and post-partum anthropometry, infant anthropometry and clinical gestational assessment were performed, and placental blood slides and histology were examined. Mothers from Highlands provinces who delivered on the coast had larger babies (mean birthweight 3.34 SD 0.48 kg) than either indigenous coastal mothers (mean 3.10 SD 0.51 kg) or those migrating to Port Moresby from other coastal regions (mean 3.14 SD 0.51 kg). This was due to a combination of longer gestation and better intrauterine growth (assessed by birthweight standard deviation scores). Gestation was slightly longer in Highlands mothers delivering on the coast compared with those delivering in the Highlands, but birthweight standard deviation scores were unchanged. Malarial infection of the placenta was almost never found. Stepwise regression analysis showed that parity, maternal height, Highlands origin and maternal body mass index (weight/height2) were all significant predictors of birthweight standard deviation score, while maternal body mass index and Highlands origin were predictors of gestational length. We conclude that Highland mothers have a tendency to deliver heavier babies, and do not demonstrate the fetal growth-retarding effects of altitude seen in other races. Although the incidence of low birthweight was only 7.1% in our study, we found that indices of maternal nutrition were predictors of birth weight.

Maternal anthropometry for prediction of pregnancy outcomes: Memorandum from a USAID/WHO/PAHO/MotherCare meeting

Maternal anthropometry for prediction of pregnancy outcomes: Memorandum from a USAID/WHO/PAHO/MotherCare meeting

Energy supplementation in the last trimester of pregnancy in East Java, Indonesia: effect on maternal anthropometry

The effect of prenatal energy supplementation on maternal anthropometry was assessed in a controlled, randomized trial in Madura, East Java. At 26-28 wk of gestation women were either given 465 kcal/d (HE group) or 52 kcal/d (LE group). Two hundred seventy-six women were enrolled in the HE group and 266 women, in the LE group. Supplement intake was variable. Testing of effect by treatment and compliance was thus done by subcategories (HE 1-3 and LE 1-3, corresponding to less than 45, 45-89, and greater than or equal to 90 packets of supplement consumed). Analysis of variance did not show significant differences among the six subcategories in third-trimester weight gain, sum of skinfold thicknesses, 4-wk postpartum weight, or body mass index. In this population energy supplementation for the short duration of the last 90-110 d of pregnancy was not sufficient to improve maternal nutrition as judged by anthropometry.

Relationship between maternal and infant nutritional status.

Relationship between maternal anthropometry, age, parity, education, work status, and food practices and nutritional status of children 0-6 months post-partum was determined using a cross-sectional design in a univariate situation. Whereas mothers' weight, height, weight for height, and months of lactation were significantly related to the weight for age of the infants, only weight, height, and work status seemed to affect their height for age. In the second stage where stepwise multiple regression analyses were done, maternal height, months of lactation, and weight for height in that order showed a significant relationship (R2 = 0.08) with infants weight for age while mothers' height and working status were the only two factors that affected the height for age of the infants (R2 = 0.04). The findings suggest that there exists a significant relationship between maternal and child anthropometry.

Placental hormones and maternal glucose metabolism. A study of fetal growth in normal pregnancy.

The interrelations between three placental hormones (oestradiol, progesterone and hPL), maternal glucose metabolism, maternal anthropometry and fetal growth were studied in a sample of 52 carefully selected pregnant women. A relation was found between infant birthweight and both fasting blood glucose and t1/2 of glucose of an intravenous glucose tolerance test at week 37 of pregnancy. The serum concentrations of the placental hormones were not significantly related to the glucose variables. The correlation between birthweight and the maternal levels of hPL in late pregnancy (r = 0.60) persisted when fasting blood glucose and t1/2 of glucose were taken into account. Maternal fat mass was found to explain more of the variation in basal insulin levels around week 37 than did the placental hormones.

Maternal anthropometry and infant growth with exclusive breast feeding in La Paz, Bolivia.

The relationship between maternal anthropometric measures and infant growth was examined with bivariate regression techniques. 28 healthy exclusively breastfeeding mothers and their infants from La Paz Bolivia were studied. Infant weight gain between 3 and 6 months was significantly positively correlated with maternal arm circumference (sq.r=26%) and weight/height (sq.r=21%) measured at 34 weeks of pregnancy. Infant weight gain was also significantly positively correlated with the same maternal measurements taken at 3 months post-partum (sq.r=23% and sq.r=21% respectively). Infant length gain between 3 and 6 months was significantly positively correlated with maternal arm circumference (sq.r=16%) and weight/height sq.r=15%) measured at 3 months post-partum. Multivariate regression using multiple measures did not improve the correlations with infant growth. (authors modified)

Changes in maternal nutritional status in a chronically malnourished population in rural Bangladesh

This paper presents a descriptive analysis of maternal anthropometry in Bangladesh. Rural Bangladeshi women (aged 15–49) were found to have a mean height of 147.8 cm, mean weight of 40.8 kg with SD of 4.9 and arm circumference of 21.8 cm. Their mean weight was much lower than the weight for height standard and was negatively related to their ages. The prevalence of low hematocrit levels in this population was high (mean 34%). Nearly one tenth of the women had hematocrit levels of less than 30% even when not pregnant. A seasonal pattern of maternal nutrition was also seen, with a lean period from August through October. Body weight and hematocrit levels decreased in that period; weight gain is recorded in that period because pregnancy is also affected. This seasonal pattern of maternal weight and arm circumference correlated with seasonal availability of food. Overall, maternal nutritional status in rural Bangladesh was low at all times and was worsened by seasonal food scarcity and frequent pregnancies.

DO MATERNAL ENERGY RESERVES LIMIT FETAL GROWTH?

Birth weight and maternal anthropometric measurements were made in a sample of 2456 deliveries in a poor, African peri-urban community. Maternal anthropometry was similar to that observed in affluent societies, whereas birth weight was significantly lower, even when adjusted for maternal weight and parity. Moreover, multiple stepwise regression showed that for a given maternal weight, fatter women had smaller babies. This is at odds with the classical hypothesis that a maternal energy deficit limits fetal growth.

Maternal anthropometry and birth weight

Maternal anthropometry and birth weight

Food Supplementation during Pregnancy, Maternal Anthropometry and Birth Weight in a Guatemalan Rural Population

The relationship between food supplementation during pregnancy maternal nutrition - as estimated by anthropometrical measurements - and birth weight in a chronically malnourished population was examined in 4 rural villages of Guatemala. The data were drawn from a long-term prospective study dealing with the effects of chronic malnutrition on physical growth and mental development. The findings showed that calorie supplementation was positively associated with maternal monthly weight gain during pregnancy after controlling for maternal home diet height head circumference gestational age parity birth interval morbidity socioeconomic status and type of supplement (protein-caloric and caloric). The proportion of mothers with a monthly weight gain equal to or less than 0.5 kg was 15% in the low-supplemental group and 2.4% in the high supplemented group. Direct associations between birth weight and all maternal measurements of mass and length (weight at 1st 2nd and 3rd trimester weight gain during pregnancy height and sitting height) with all the perimeters (head arm leg thigh and chest) and the 2 osseous diameters measured (biestyloid and bicondylar) were also observed. Associations between birth weight and skinfolds (subscapular bicipital tricipital midaxilar lateral and anterior thigh and leg) were less consistent. The results support the hypothesis that food supplementation improves both birth weight and maternal nutritional status.

Nomograms for prediction of body density and total body fat from skinfold measurements.

Nomograms for prediction of body density and total body fat from skinfold measurements.

Maternal Anthropometry and Intrauterine Growth Retardation (IUGR) - A Hospital Based Study

This was a prospective observational study conducted on374 pregnant women who remained in the study beginningfrom first trimester until gave birth to singleton newbornbabies selected from five maternity hospitals located atdifferent regions in the country over a period of thirtymonths from July 2002 to December 2004. Objectives ofthe study were: (1) To find out the incidence of IUGR in thehospital based study, (2) To observe the impact of prepregnancyweight and pregnancy weight gain on IUGR,(3) To select appropriate cut off points of pre-pregnancyweight and pregnancy weight gain to identify women at riskfor delivering IUGR babies and (4) To observe theassociation between socio-demographic factors andmaternal anthropometry.Twenty one percent women delivered IUGR babies. Motherswho gained <4 kg in second trimester and <5kg in thirdtrimester gave birth to significantly higher incidence ofIUGR babies (29.1% and 35.3% respectively) in comparisonto mothers gained e” 4 kg and e” 5 kg who gave birth to14.4% and 9.3% IUGR babies (p<.001) . Maternal weightfor height in the lower range of normalcy at early pregnancywas associated with an increased risk of IUGR whencompare to normal or over weight for height group ofmothers (30.6% vs. 9.5%; p=<.001). The study revealedthat combination of <90 percent of standard weight forheight and net weight gain per week <125gm have strongnegative influence on foetal growth (39.5% IUGR babies).On the contrary, combination of e” 110 percent of weightfor height and weekly weight gain of e” 150 gm havesignificant positive impact on foetal growth (6.7% IUGR) .For total weight gain, best cut off point for identifying riskwomen of delivering IUGR babies was recommended 8.5kg and that for prepregnancy or first trimester weight was47.5 kg.Key words: Low birth weight; intrauterine growthretardation; AnthropometryDOI: 10.3329/jbcps.v28i2.5366J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2010; 28: 73-80

Relationship between Leptin Concentration in Cord Blood and Foetal Growth and Maternal Anthropometry of GDM Mothers at Delivery

Background and Aims: Cord blood leptin may reflect the leptinemic status of a newborn at birth more accurately than the leptin values of blood collected from other sites. The present study was undertaken to determine the relationship of cord serum leptin concentration at birth with neonatal and maternal anthropometric parameters. 
 Materials and Methods: Blood was taken from the umbilical cord of the babies at delivery. Maternal anthropometric measurements were recorded at admission for delivery. Neonatal anthropometric measurements were recorded within 48 hours after delivery. Linear regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between cord serum leptin concentration and anthropometric parameters of the baby and the mother. Both Serum leptin and serum C-peptide levels were measured by chemiluminescence-based ELISA method. 
 Results: The leptin concentration (ng/ml, mean±SD) in cord blood was 39.13±14.44. Cord leptin levels correlated with birth weight (r=0.673, p<0.0001), ponderal index (r=0.732, p<0.0001) but it did not correlate with maternal body mass index, gestational age (r=0.135, p=0.349) at delivery or cord serum C-peptide concentration (r=-0.049, p=0.735) or placental weight (r=0.203, p=0.157). 
 Conclusion: There are associations between cord leptin concentration at delivery and birth weight, ponderal index (PI) of the babies but not body mass index (BMI) of the mothers. High leptin levels of the baby could represent an important feedback modulator of substrate supply and subsequently for adipose tissue status during late gestation. 
 (J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2007; 25 : 9-13)