The relationship between maternal weight gain in pregnancy and newborn weight

Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index and gestational weight gain on adverse birth outcomes in Chinese newborns: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Maternal and child health is an important measure of national well-being. This study further explored the individual and combined effects of maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) on adverse birth weight-related outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective study was carried out at a maternal and child health hospital from 2018 to 2021, and a total of 17,506 eligible women were invited to participate. The associations of pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG with adverse birth outcomes were examined by using restricted cubic spline regression and binary logistic regression.

RESULTS

Pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG had non-linear associations with low birth weight and macrosomia. They were associated with an increased risk of macrosomia (Pre-pregnancy BMI for OR = 1.170, 95%CI:1.144 to 1.197, P < 0.001, and GWG for OR = 1.071, 95%CI:1.054 to 1.089, P < 0.001) and large for gestational age infant (LGA) (Pre-pregnancy BMI for OR = 1.125, 95%CI:1.111 to 1.141, P < 0.001, and GWG for OR = 1.045, 95%CI:1.036 to 1.054, P < 0.001). The high risk of low birth weight and preterm birth was observed among the group of women with inadequate GWG. The risks of macrosomia and LGA increased with pre-pregnancy BMI from low weight to overweight and obesity, and GWG from inadequate to overabundance, while small for gestational age infant was more prevalent in the low pre-pregnancy BMI group.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG exhibited non-linear associations with low birth weight and macrosomia. The various combinations of pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG had different effects on adverse birth weight-related outcomes.

Prenatal prednisone exposure impacts liver development and function in fetal mice and its characteristics

Prednisone, a widely used glucocorticoid drug in human and veterinary medicine, has been reported to cause developmental toxicity. However, systematic studies about the effect of prednisone on fetal liver development are still unclear. We investigated the potential effects of maternal exposure to clinically equivalent doses of prednisone during different gestational stages on cell proliferation and apoptosis, cell differentiation, glucose and lipid metabolism, and hematopoiesis in the liver of fetal mice, and explored the potential mechanisms. Results showed that prenatal prednisone exposure (PPE) could suppress cell proliferation, inhibit hepatocyte differentiation, and promote cholangiocyte differentiation in the fetal liver. Meanwhile, PPE could result in the enhancement of glyconeogenesis and bile acid synthesis and the inhibition of fatty acid β-oxidation and hematopoiesis in the fetal liver. Further analysis found that PPE-induced alterations in liver development had obvious stage and sex differences. Overall, the alteration in fetal liver development and function induced by PPE was most pronounced during the whole pregnancy (GD0-18), and the males were relatively more affected than the females. Additionally, fetal hepatic insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) signaling pathway was inhibited by PPE. In conclusion, PPE could impact fetal liver development and multiple functions, and these alterations might be partially related to the inhibition of IGF1 signaling pathway.

Midwives' experiences of supporting healthy gestational weight management: A mixed methods systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

Excessive levels of gestational weight gain (GWG) are linked with poorer health outcomes for mother and baby, including an increased risk of pregnancy-related hypertension, labour induction, caesarean delivery and increased birth weight.

OBJECTIVE

To explore literature relating to midwives' experiences and challenges and identify interventions relating to GWG.

DESIGN

This review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for mixed methods systematic reviews. CINAHL complete, APA PsycArticles, APA PsycInfo, the Cochrane Library and MEDLINE were systematically searched in May 2022. Search terms related to midwives, advice, weight management and experiences were used. A PRISMA approach was taken to identify data, and thematic analysis combined with descriptive statistics allowed synthesis and integration.

FINDINGS

Fifty-seven papers were included and three overarching themes were generated; i) emotion and weight, ii) ability to influence and iii) practical challenges and strategies for success. Weight was consistently described as a sensitive topic. Challenges included level of expertise and comfort, perceptions of ability to influence and an awareness of incongruence of midwives' own weight and the advice they are delivering. Interventions evaluated well with some self-reports of improved knowledge and confidence. There was no evidence of impact on practice or GWG.

KEY CONCLUSIONS

Although addressing maternal weight gain is an international priority due to the significant risks incurred, in this review we have identified multiple challenges for midwives to support women in healthy weight management. Identified interventions targeting midwives do not directly address the challenges identified and are therefore likely to be insufficient to improve existing practice.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Partnership working and co-creation with women and midwives is essential to ensure knowledge about maternal weight gain is effectively shared across communities to catalyse change.

Accuracy of Fetal Weight Estimation by Ultrasonographic Evaluation in a Northeastern Region of India

Methods

The cross-sectional study included 100 pregnant women aged 20–45 years from the Kamrup district admitted to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital, Guwahati, Assam. The data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 16. The EFW at term was calculated using Shepard's formula and Hadlock's formula. Differences in means are compared using the one-way ANOVA or Kruskal–Wallis test and paired t-test. The accuracy of the two procedures was evaluated using mean absolute error (MAE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). A p value<0.05 was considered significant.

Results

The present study included 100 pregnant women aged 21–38 years with term or postterm pregnancies subjected to ultrasonographic evaluation within 72 hours of delivery. The mean (±s.d.) EFW by Shepard's formula was 2716.05 (±332.38) g and Hadlock's formula was 2740.44 (±353.23) g, respectively. For Hadlock's formula, MAE ± s.d. was found to be higher (overall 84.59 ± 76.54) specifically in the weight category less than 2500 (106.42 ± 88.11) as compared to Shepard's (overall MAE ± s.d = 79.86 ± 64.78, and among ABW < 2500 g, MAE ± s.d = 65.04 ± 61.02). The overall MAPE of Hadlock's formula was 3.14% and that for Shepard's formula was 2.91%, and the difference was not statistically significant. Both Shepard's formula and Hadlock's formula had a sensitivity of 92.85% in detecting IUGR, but Hadlock's method had higher specificity (66%), higher PPV (86.67%), and higher NPV (80%).

Conclusion

The ultrasonographic evaluation of fetal weight helps predict fetal birth weight precisely and can influence obstetric management decisions concerning timing and route of delivery, thus reducing perinatal morbidity and mortality.

Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain trajectory, and risk of adverse perinatal outcomes

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the relationships of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) trajectory with adverse perinatal outcomes (APOs).

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted in China, and 12 855 women who had a singleton birth were included. The WHO classification categorized pre-pregnancy BMI, and five GWG trajectories were identified using the latent class growth model.

RESULTS

The adjusted odds ratios for the risks of cesarean delivery, preterm birth, and large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infant were significantly higher in women with whoe were overweight or obese pre-pregnancy, but were lower in underweight (except preterm birth) than in normal weight women. Five GWG trajectories were identified: (1) retaining GWG (6.6 kg), (2) moderately slow GWG (10.5 kg), (3) moderate GWG (13.7 kg), (4) moderately fast GWG (16.3 kg), and (5) rapid GWG (19.8 kg). Compared with women in trajectory 3, the risks of cesarean delivery and LGA increase by about 35%-96% for the women in trajectory 4 or 5, whereas the women in trajectory 1 or 2 are inclined to have a higher risk of small for gestational age, but lower risk of LGA. Association of GWG trajectory with APOs varies across pre-pregnancy BMI subgroups.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the influence of inappropriate pre-pregnancy maternal weight and GWG trajectories on the risk of APOs.

ASSOCIATION OF CONGENITAL ANOMALIES IN LIVE BIRTHS WITH THEIR OBSTETRIC-NEONATAL AND SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC PROFILES

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify the association of congenital anomalies in live births with the obstetric-neonatal and sociodemographic profile. Methods: an ecological study, conducted in 2019, with 251,444 live births, identified through the database of the Live Birth Information System of the Minas Gerais Health Secretariat. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were adopted for the analysis. Results: 1,865 cases of anomalies (0.7%) were found, with predominance of deformity of the musculoskeletal system in 789 (42.3%) live births. The variables that presented a significant association with congenital anomalies were single mothers, age ≥35 years old, inadequately performed prenatal care initiated in the third trimester of pregnancy, double (or more) pregnancy, preterm births, cesarean delivery, fetal breech presentation, exclusive assistance by the medical professional during delivery, newborn with high-risk 5-minute Apgar score, low birth weight, and male gender. Conclusion: in 2019, the congenital malformations in the state of Minas Gerais were associated with single women, aged ≥35 years old, who underwent inadequate and late prenatal care, and with double or more pregnancies. In relation to the newborns, the malformations were associated with a high risk for late sequelae, weight between ≤1,000 g and <2.500 g, and male gender.

Association among pre-pregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain and neonatal birth weight: a prospective cohort study in China

Background

This study aims to explore the relationships between pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), gestational weight gain (GWG), rate of GWG during the second and third trimesters (GWG_rate) and birth weight among Chinese women.

Methods

Women were enrolled by 24 hospitals in 15 different provinces in mainland China from July 25th, 2017 to 26 November 2018. Pre-pregnancy BMI, GWG and GWG_rate were calculated and divided in to different groups. The multinomial logistic regression model and restrictive cubic spline model were used to explore the relationships.

Results

Of the 3585 participants, women who were underweight, had insufficient GWG or GWG_rate had 1.853-, 1850- or 1.524-fold higher risks for delivering small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infant compared with women who had normal BMI, sufficient GWG or GWG_rate. Women who were overweight/obese, had excessive GWG or GWG_rate had 1.996-, 1676- or 1.673-fold higher risks for delivering large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infant. The effects of GWG and GWG_rate on birth weight varied by pre-pregnancy BMI statuses. Dose-response analysis demonstrated L-shaped and S-shaped relationships between pre-pregnancy BMI, GWG, GWG_rate and neonatal birth weight.

Conclusions

Pre-pregnancy BMI, GWG or GWG_rate were associated with neonatal birth weight among Chinese women. Both body weight before and during pregnancy should be maintained within the recommendations to prevent abnormal birth weight.