Pre-pregnancy Nutritional Status Research Articles

Association of maternal nutritional status and small for gestational age neonates in peri-urban communities of Karachi, Pakistan: findings from the PRISMA study

BackgroundEarly pregnancy nutritional status can be associated with adverse birth outcomes such as small-for-gestational age (SGA) and low birth weight (LBW). BMI (Body Mass Index) and MUAC (Mid-upper arm circumference) are easy to use assessments and are indicative of the pre-pregnancy nutritional status if obtained in the first trimester. This study primarily assesses the association of maternal nutritional status using BMI and MUAC with SGA in a community-based cohort of Pakistani women. It also aims to determine the predictive ability of MUAC and BMI in predicting SGA. Secondarily, we assessed the association between maternal nutrition and large for gestational age (LGA) and LBW.MethodsThis study is a secondary analysis of an ongoing pregnancy cohort “Pregnancy Risk Infant Surveillance and Measurement Alliance (PRISMA)“in Ibrahim Hyderi and Rehri Goth, Karachi. PRISMA participants who were enrolled between January 2021 to August 2022 were included given they had a gestational age < 14 weeks confirmed via ultrasound, MUAC and BMI measurements were available and birth weight was captured within 72 hours. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine an association between maternal nutritional status and SGA. The PRISMA study was approved by the Aga Khan University Ethics Review Committee (2021–5920-15,518).ResultsOf 926 women included in the analysis, 26.6% (n = 247) had a low MUAC (< 23 cm) while 18.4% (n = 171) were underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2). Nearly one third of low MUAC and underweight women delivered SGA infants (34.4 and 35.1% respectively). Underweight women and women with low MUAC had a statistically significant association with SGA (Underweight: OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.1,2.4; Low MUAC-OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.2,2.3) as well as LBW (Underweight: OR-1.63, 95% CI 1.1,2.4; Low MUAC-OR-1.63, 95% CI 1.2,2.3). ROC curves showed that MUAC and BMI had modest predictability for SGA (AUC < 0.7).ConclusionMaternal nutritional status as indicated by BMI and MUAC are strongly associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes including SGA, LGA and LBW. Although MUAC and BMI are widely used to determine maternal nutritional status, they have poor predictive ability for newborn size. Further research is needed to identify other tools or a combination of tools to better predict adverse birth outcomes in resource-limited settings and plan interventions.

Breastfeeding moderates the association of maternal pre-pregnancy nutritional status with offspring body composition at 30 years.

Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index is positively associated with offspring obesity, even at adulthood, whereas breastfeeding decreases the risk of obesity. The present study was aimed at assessing whether breastfeeding moderates the association of maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index with offspring body composition at adulthood, using data from 3439 subjects enrolled in a southern Brazilian birth cohort. At 30 years of age, maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index was positively associated with offspring prevalence of obesity, abdominal obesity, as well as body mass index and fat and lean mass index. Breastfeeding moderated the association of maternal pre-pregnancy obesity with offspring adiposity at 30 years of age. For those breastfed<6 months, body mass index was 4.13 kg/m2 (95% confidence interval: 2.98; 5.28) higher among offspring of obese mothers, in relation to offspring of normal weight mothers, whereas among those breastfed≥6 months the magnitude of the difference was small [2.95 kg/m2 (95% confidence interval: 1.17; 4.73)], p-value for interaction = 0.03. Concerning obesity, among those who had been breastfed < 6 months, the prevalence of obesity was 2.56 (95% confidence interval: 1.98; 3.31) times higher among offspring of obese mothers. On the other hand, among those who were breastfed ≥ 6 months, the prevalence of obesity was 1.82 (95% confidence interval: 1.09; 3.04) times higher among offspring of obese mothers. Therefore, among overweight mothers breastfeeding for more than 6 months should be supported, as it may mitigate the consequences of maternal overweight on offspring body composition.

The influence of pre-gestational nutritional status on mother-newborn pair outcomes

Introduction: Abnormal pregestational and gestational maternal nutritional status is an undeniable health problem which can result in gestational changes and interfere in fetal and maternal health conditions. Objective: To analyze the influence of pre-pregnancy nutritional status on mother-newborn pair outcomes. Methods: This is an observational, analytical, and cross-sectional study carried out in a public Maternity Hospital in Joinville, SC, Brazil. A total of 1,670 puerperal women were interviewed and classified according to BMI. The outcomes evaluated were: cesarean delivery, Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Pregnancy-induced Hypertension, small for Gestational age newborns, large for gestational age newborns, premature birth, low weight at birth and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit. Results: Low-weight pregnant women had a higher risk of cesarian delivery. Overweight and obese patients had a greater chance of GDM, with the odds ranging from 1.5 to 7.2 times, and PIH with the odds ranging from 1.7 to 4.6 times. Conclusion: Low-weight pregnant women have a higher chance of cesarian delivery. Meanwhile, overweight and all classes of obesity in pregnancy progressively increase the risk of GDM and PIH.

Maternal Pre-Pregnancy Nutritional Status and Infant Birth Weight in Relation to 0–2 Year-Growth Trajectory and Adiposity in Term Chinese Newborns with Appropriate Birth Weight-for-Gestational Age

Being born with appropriate weight-for-gestational age (AGA, ~80% of newborns) is often considered as low risk for future obesity. This study examined differential growth trajectories in the first two years by considering pre- and peri-natal factors among term-born AGA infants. We prospectively investigated 647 AGA infants and their mothers enrolled during 2012-2013 in Shanghai, China, and obtained repeated anthropometric measures at ages 42 days, 3, 6, 9, and 18 months from postnatal care records, and onsite measurements at age 1 and 2 years (skinfold thickness, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC)). Birthweight was classified into sex-and gestational age-specific tertiles. Among mothers, 16.3% were overweight/obese (OWO), and 46.2% had excessive gestational weight gain (GWG). The combination of maternal prepregnancy OWO and high birthweight tertile identified a subset of AGA infants with 4.1 mm higher skinfold thickness (95% CI 2.2-5.9), 1.3 cm higher MUAC (0.8-1.7), and 0.89 units higher weight-for-length z-score (0.54, 1.24) at 2 years of age with adjustment for covariates. Excessive GWG was associated with higher child adiposity measures at 2 years of age. AGA infants manifested differential growth trajectories by the combination of maternal OWO and higher birthweight, suggesting that additional attention is needed for those "at increased risk" of OWO in early intervention.

Guidelines on how to monitor gestational weight gain during antenatal care.

Gestational weight gain (GWG) should be tracked at all antenatal consultations, and pregnant women should gain weight according to pre-established guidelines. The recommendation on weight gain varies according to the pre-pregnancy nutritional status (body mass index – BMI).

Maternal malnutrition during pregnancy among women with sickle cell disease.

The objective of this study was to compare the nutritional status and dietary intake of pregnant women with sickle cell disease (SS hemoglobinopathy and SC hemoglobinopathy) to healthy controls and report the maternal and perinatal outcomes. This is a prospective, longitudinal cohort study. Pregnant women with a diagnosis of sickle cell disease and control group were recruited in an outpatient clinic of a tertiary care hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. Maternal anthropometric data and dietary intake data were collected at the second and third trimesters. A total of 49 pregnancies complicated by sickle cell disease were included. Prepregnancy body mass index was significantly lower in the SS hemoglobinopathy group (n=26, median 20.3 kg/m2) than the SC hemoglobinopathy group (n=23, 22.7 kg/m2) or control group (n=33, 23.2 kg/m2, p<0.05). The prepregnancy nutritional status revealed significantly more women classified as underweight in the SS hemoglobinopathy group (15.4%) than in the SC hemoglobinopathy group (4.4%) and control group (1.6%, p=0.009). In the second trimester, maternal protein intake was significantly lower in SS hemoglobinopathy (73.2 g/day) and SC hemoglobinopathy (68.8 g/day) than in the control group (95.7 g/day, p=0.004). In the third trimester, only SS hemoglobinopathy mothers showed dietary intake of protein significantly lower than that of the controls (67.5 g/day vs. 92.8 g/day, p=0.02). Vitamin A and E consumption was also reduced in the third trimester in the SS hemoglobinopathy group (p<0.05). The nutritional status of pregnant women with SS hemoglobinopathy is characterized by a state of undernutrition. The lower protein intake in the second and third trimesters of pregnant women with SS hemoglobinopathy may contribute to this condition. Undernourishment is a serious complication of sickle cell disease, primarily during pregnancy, and it should be addressed during the prenatal period.

Maternal Pre-Pregnancy Nutritional Status and Physical Activity Levels and a Sports Injury Reported in Children: A Seven-Year Follow-Up Study.

Objective: Our aim was to analyze dose–response associations between maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index and physical activity levels with childhood sports injury rates. Methods: Participants included pre-pregnant mothers (n = 4811) and their children at the age of 7 years (n = 3311). Maternal anthropometry (height, weight, and body mass index), time spent in physical activity, and education level were recorded. All sports injuries were defined as injuries reported in the past year by the children at the age of 7 years. Results: Children whose mothers were overweight/obese in the pre-pregnancy period were 2.04 (OR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.12–3.71) times more likely to report a sports injury at the age of 7 years. Underweight mothers exhibited a 74% decrease in the odds of their children reporting a sports injury at follow-up (OR = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.10–0.68). Finally, an increase in maternal physical activity across the last three quartiles was associated with a lower odds of sports injuries. Conclusions: The risk of reporting a sports injury was greater for children whose mothers were overweight/obese in the pre-pregnancy period. However, there was a lower risk with both maternal underweight status and increasing minutes of physical activity.

Pre-conception and prenatal factors influencing gestational weight gain: a prospective study in Tigray\xa0region, northern Ethiopia

BackgroundIn low-income countries, the high prevalence of pre-pregnancy undernutrition remains a challenge for the future health of women and their offspring. On top of good nutrition, adequate gestational weight gain has been recognized as an essential prerequisite for optimal maternal and child health outcomes. However, good-quality data on factors influencing gestational weight gain is lacking. Therefore, this study was aimed to prospectively identify pre-conception and prenatal factors influencing gestational weight gain in Ethiopia.MethodsA population based prospective study was undertaken between February 2018 and January 2019 in the Tigray region, northern Ethiopia. Firstly, the weight of non-pregnant women of reproductive age living in the study area was measured between August and October 2017. Subsequently, eligible pregnant women identified during the study period were included consecutively and followed until birth. Data were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire and anthropometric measurements complemented with secondary data. Gestational weight gain, i.e., the difference between 32 to 36 weeks of gestation and pre-pregnancy weights, was classified as per the Institute of Medicine (IOM) guideline. Linear, spline, and logistic regression models were used to estimate the influence of pre-conception and prenatal factors on gestational weight gain.ResultsThe mean gestational weight gain (standard deviation[SD]) was 10.6 (2.3) kg. Overall, 64.0% (95% CI 60.9, 67.1) of the women did not achieve adequate weight gain. Factors associated with higher gestational weight gain were higher women empowerment (B 0.60, 95% CI 0.06, 1.14), dietary diversity (B 0.39, 95% CI 0.03, 0.76), pre-pregnancy body mass index (B 0.13, 95% CI 0.05, 0.22), and haemoglobin (B 0.54, 95% CI 0.45, 0.64). Additionally, adequate prenatal care (B 0.58, 95% CI 0.28, 0.88) was associated with higher gestational weight gain.ConclusionsAdequate gestational weight gain was not achieved by most women in the study area, primarily not by those who were underweight before pregnancy. Interventions that advance women’s empowerment, dietary quality, pre-pregnancy nutritional status, and prenatal care utilization may improve gestational weight gain and contribute to optimizing maternal and child health outcomes.

Association of Prepregnancy Nutritional Status and Physical Activity Levels with Birth Size Outcomes among West Sumatran Pregnant Women: Results from the Vitamin D Pregnant Mothers Cohort Study in Indonesia

Background: Maternal and neonatal morbidity is still high in developing countries like in Indonesia. There are several factors may affect maternal health during pregnancy such as physical activity level (PAL) and pre-pregnancy nutritional status.&#x0D; Aim: To analyze the association between maternal physical activity status (PAL) and pre-pregnancy body mass index (PP BMI) with birth size outcomes.&#x0D; Methods: A prospective birth cohort study, Vitamin D Pregnant Mothers (VDPM) Study, to 183 healthy singleton pregnant women. Pre-pregnancy body mass index was classified according to WHO guidelines for Asian Population. Women PAL was measured at the first trimester (T1) and third trimester (T3) during pregnancy using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). Birth size outcomes were measured immediately after birth such as birth weight, birth length, and head circumference.&#x0D; Results: Pregnant women at T3 had two times lower physical activity than T1 of pregnancy (OR, 2.18; CI, 1.044-4.57; p = 0.045). Maternal PAL at T1 and T3 were mostly in sedentary level (74.3% and 77.1%, respectively). There was no association between PP BMI, PAL, and birth size outcomes (p &gt; 0.05 for all comparisons). However, the physical activity at T1 had a significant association with birth weight outcomes [MD (95%CI): 155.3 (13.8 – 296.8), p = 0.032]. There was a significant interaction between maternal PAL and PP BMI on birth weight (p interaction = 0.011) and head circumference (p interaction = 0.034).&#x0D; Conclusions: Our study reveals that pre-maternal nutritional status and physical activity behavior during the pregnancy associated with the head circumference and birth weight outcomes. Further large studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Prevalence and temporal trends in prepregnancy nutritional status and gestational weight gain of adult women followed in the Brazilian Food and Nutrition Surveillance System from 2008 to 2018.

Prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) are the most investigated indicators of maternal nutritional status, which is a modifiable factor that plays a vital role in maternal and infant health. This study describes prepregnancy BMI and GWG of 840,243 women with 2,087,765 weight observations in the Brazilian Food and Nutrition Surveillance System from 2008 to 2018. Prepregnancy BMI was classified according to the World Health Organization cut‐offs. Total GWG was calculated from weight measurements taken after 36 weeks of pregnancy and classified according to the Institute of Medicine guidelines. Temporal trends in prepregnancy BMI status were examined, and maps were used to evaluate changes in excessive GWG in each Brazilian federation unit. On overall, prepregnancy overweight and obesity increased from 22.6% to 28.8% and from 9.8% to 19.8%, respectively, between 2008 and 2018. The prevalence of excessive GWG rose from 34.2% to 38.7% during the same period and in 11 of the 27 Brazilian federation units between 2008 and 2016. Women with underweight showed the highest values for mean total GWG for all the compared years (overall variation from 12.3 to 13.1 kg), followed by those with normal weight (11.9 to 12.5 kg), overweight (10.1 to 10.9 kg) and obesity (from 8.2 to 8.9 kg). Within each BMI group, values remained fairly stable throughout the studied period for first‐ and second‐trimester GWG and total GWG. These results help to fill a significant gap in understanding the distribution of prepregnancy BMI and GWG in Brazilian women.

What factors are associated with pre-pregnancy nutritional status? Baseline analysis of the KITE cohort: a prospective study in northern Ethiopia

ObjectiveTo assess a broad range of factors associated with pre-pregnancy nutritional status, a key step towards improving maternal and child health outcomes, in Ethiopia.DesignA baseline data analysis of a population-based...

Estado antropométrico pré-gestacional e peso ao nascer: Coorte NISAMI

The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between the pre-gestational Body Mass Index (BMIpg) and the newborn's weight in the municipality of Santo Antônio de Jesus, BA. This was a prospective cohort study, with 185 pregnant women and their respective newborns, attended at the Basic Health Units, from April 2012 to November 2013. The pre-gestational BMI was performed with data of their referred weight and height measured on the day of application of the questionnaire. The Kolmogorov – Smirnov test was performed to analyze the normality of the data. The association between pre-pregnancy nutritional status and perinatal outcomes was estimated through the Relative Risk and 95% confidence interval. Of the 185 women, 44.9% started the pregnancy with some weight deviation. Underweight (RR = 2.2; 95% CI = 0.5-9.5) and overweight (RR = 1, 1; 95% CI = 0.5-2.6) women showed a positive association with insufficient birth weight (&lt;3000g), while obese women presented a negative association (RR = 0.8; 95% CI = 0.3-2.7). Only underweight women were at risk for low birth weight (RR = 3.1; 95% CI = 0.3-30.7). These data reveal that the pre-gestational anthropometric status influences the development of pregnancy and the nutritional inadequacies configured in periods prior to conception are considered determining factors for the child's weight. Pre-pregnancy weight deviations were positively associated with inadequate birth weight, which suggests the need for preconception nutritional care. Health care for women of childbearing age may assist in better pregnancy outcomes.

Influence of maternal pre-pregnancy nutritional status on offspring anthropometric measurements and body composition in three Brazilian Birth Cohorts.

We aimed at evaluating the association of maternal pre-pregnancy nutritional status with offspring anthropometry and body composition. We also evaluated whether these associations were modified by gender, diet and physical activity and mediated by birth weight. Birth cohort study. Waist circumference was measured with an inextensible tape, and fat and lean mass were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Multiple linear regression was used to adjust for possible confounders and allele score of BMI. We carried out mediation analysis using G-formula. In 1982, 1993 and 2004, all maternity hospitals in Pelotas (South Brazil) were visited daily and all live births whose families lived in the urban area of the city were evaluated. These subjects have been followed up at different ages. Offspring of obese mothers had on average higher BMI, waist circumference and fat mass index than those of normal weight mothers, and these differences were higher among daughters. The magnitudes of the association were similar in the cohorts, except for height, where the association pattern was not clear. In the 1982 cohort, further adjustment for a BMI allele score had no material influence on the magnitude of the associations. Mediation analyses showed that birth weight captured part of this association. Our findings suggest that maternal pre-pregnancy nutritional status is positively associated with offspring BMI and adiposity in offspring. And this association is higher among daughters whose mother was overweight or obese and, birth weight explains part of this association.

Pre-pregnancy nutritional status and obstetric complications in pregnant adolescents

Pre-pregnancy nutritional status and obstetric complications in pregnant adolescents

Estado nutricional y ganancia de peso en gestantes atendidas en el Centro de Salud No. 3 de Loja

El estado nutricional inicial (ENI) y el control de la ganancia de peso (GP) durante la gesta, son de vital importancia, ya que su alteración constituye un factor de riesgo para el desarrollo de complicaciones maternas y fetales a corto, mediano y largo plazo. Los objetivos fueron, valorar el estado nutricional pregestacional y gestacional hasta la doceava semana que presentan las mujeres atendidas en el Centro de Salud N°3 de Loja, estimar su GP por trimestre y establecer la relación del estado nutricional y su GP. El estudio es descriptivo. La muestra fue de 92 gestantes que cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. Los datos se recogieron de las curvas de GP y de Índice de Masa Corporal (IMC) del Ministerio de Salud Pública (MSP) contenidas en las historias clínicas de las embarazadas. Luego de analizar la información se obtuvo, un IMC inicial promedio(X ̃) de 25,28Kg/m2 (±4,25DE), la población se dividió en, 56,5% con ENI normal, 28,3% sobrepeso, 14,1% obesidad y 1,1% infrapeso; la GP al final del tercer trimestre fue normal en 44,6%, menor a lo recomendado en 30,4% y excesiva en 27,2%. Se pudo constatar que no existe diferencia significativa (p&gt;0,05) para la relación entre el ENI y la GP al final de la gestación. En conclusión el IMC inicial no es predictor de la GP final que alcanzará la gestante a término de este proceso y la alteración de esta variable podría estar determinada por otros factores.

Association of pre-pregnancy BMI with biochemical profile during pregnancy, delivery mode and size of neonates in the CRIBS birth cohort

AbstractIn the last few decades the prevalence of overweight and obesity has reached epidemic levels worldwide affecting over 2.1 billion people, including a large proportion of women of childbearing age. An adverse intrauterine environment resulting from conditions such as maternal obesity or gestational diabetes, can have long-term negative effect on the child's health later in life. This study focuses on maternal pre-pregnancy BMIs and their association with biochemical profile in pregnancy, delivery mode and size of neonates in the Croatian Islands’ Birth cohort Study (CRIBS). A total of 301 mother-child dyads were included in this study. The classification of the pre-pregnancy nutritional status followed WHO BMI cut-offs. Blood samples of women were taken in the second trimester of pregnancy and analysed for fasting blood glucose level, urates, creatinine, uric acid, total protein, bilirubin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, potassium, sodium, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), homocysteine, fibrinogen and lipoprotein A. The neonates’ length in cm and weight in gm were measured immediately after delivery at the University Hospital Split. Differences in mean values of biochemical parameters and neonates’ size between pre-pregnancy BMI categories were tested using One-way ANOVA (p &lt; 0.05) and differences in prevalence of delivery mode using the Chi-square test. Nutritional status before pregnancy showed that 4% of women were underweight (BMI &lt; 18.5 kg.m2), 75.1 % had normal weight (BMI 18.5–24.9 kg.m2), 14.6% were overweight (BMI 25–29.9 kg.m2) and 6.3% were obese (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg.m2). Pre-pregnancy obesity and overweight were significantly associated with elevated fasting glucose (p = 0.02), triglycerides (p = 0.01), and uric acid (p = 0.001) levels, and with decreased protective HDL cholesterol (p = 0.01) during pregnancy. Also, in comparison with normal weight and underweight women, obese pregnant women more often gave birth to heavier (p = 0.01) and longer babies (p = 0.036) and there was a strong correlation between higher pre-pregnancy BMI and delivery mode (p = 0.004). Obese women had 50% chance of giving birth by caesarean section in comparison with 20.1% in normal weight women. Our study confirmed that high maternal pre-pregnancy BMI could be a significant risk factor for both mother's health during pregnancy and different adverse birth outcomes, such as elevated risk of caesarean section delivery and child macrosomia. Therefore, women should be advised to attain normal weight before starting the pregnancy.

Prenatal alcohol exposure affects renal function in overweight schoolchildren: birth cohort analysis.

Prenatal ethanol exposure has been shown to reduce nephron endowment in animal models, but the effect of alcohol during human pregnancy on postnatal kidney function has not been explored. We aim to investigate the potential association of maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy with the offspring renal function, considering potential confounding by intrauterine growth and children's current nutritional status. Prospective longitudinal study in a random sample of 1093 children from a population-based birth cohort. Anthropometrics and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were assessed at 7 years of age. Multiple linear regression models were fitted, adjusting for child's gender, age, birthweight, and maternal age, education, prepregnancy nutritional status, and smoking. Thirteen percent of mothers consumed alcohol during pregnancy. At 7 years of age, eGFR was significantly lower in children with prenatal alcohol exposure (134 ± 17 vs.138 ± 16 mL/min/1.73m2, p = 0.014). The effect was dose dependent and only present in overweight and obese children, among whom adjusted eGFR was -6.6(-12.0 to -1.1)mL/min/1.73m2 and -11.1(-21.3 to -1.2)mL/min/1.73m2 in those exposed to ≤ 40 g and to > 40 g of alcohol per week, respectively, compared to no consumption (ptrend = 0.002). Prenatal alcohol exposure has a dose-dependent adverse effect on renal function at school age in overweight and obese children.

Pre-pregnancy nutritional status versus maternal weight gain and neonatal size

Maternal weight during pregnancy may affect both, the course of pregnancy and the anthropometric parameters of the newborn. The steadily growing problem of excessive weight in reproductive-age women is associated with the risk for gestational obesity and its negative consequences for the infant. The aims of the study were to analyze the following: (i) maternal weight gain as compared to the pre-pregnancy BMI, and (ii) the link between maternal weight and other environmental factors versus neonatal size. The study was conducted among 94 women in singleton term pregnancy, who delivered at the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Oncology, Medical University of Warsaw. The American Institute of Medicine criteria for the recommended weight gain were followed. Multivariate logistic regression model and multiple regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. Normal weight gain was observed in only one-third of the subjects, while excess weight gain was detected in as many as 42.5% of the women. Active smokers were at a 4-fold higher risk for excess weight gain as compared to nonsmokers (OR 4.13, 95% CI 1.19 - 14.34, p = 0.026). Infants born to mothers with insufficient weight gain (24.5% of the mothers) were lighter by 302 g (p=0.0405) and shorter by 2.4 cm (p=0.0025) as compared to those born to mothers with normal weight gain. Maternal weight gain in most of our subjects was not compliant with the current recommendations, regardless of the pre-pregnancy BMI. Inadequate pregnancy weight gain negatively affects the anthropometric parameters of the newborn.

Relationship among Maternal Height, Pre-Pregnancy Nutritional Status and Birth Weight of Neonates in Dhaka City

Relationship among Maternal Height, Pre-Pregnancy Nutritional Status and Birth Weight of Neonates in Dhaka City

Maternal prepregnancy nutritional status influences newborn size and mode of delivery

The coexistence of underweight and obesity is commonly called the double burden of malnutrition, a phenomenon which can be found in most countries worldwide. During pregnancy maternal underweight as well as obesity have a profound impact on fetal growth patterns and consequently pregnancy outcome. In the present study the effects of maternal underweight as well as obesity on fetal growth and consequently newborn size were tested in a sample of 9214 term births which took place at Vienna Austria. It could be shown that maternal prepregnancy weight status was significantly positively associated with maternal age. Furthermore maternal prepregnancy weight status has a marked influence on fetal growth. With increasing maternal weight status birth weight, birth length, newborn head dimensions and acromial circumference increased significantly. Maternal obesity enhances fetal growth and increases the risk of giving birth to a large for gestational age offspring. In contrast underweight increases the risk of giving birth to a small for gestational age offspring. Additionally morbid obesity was positively associated with risk of caesarean section.