A systematic review and meta-analysis of gestational weight gain recommendations and related outcomes in Brazil

Predictors of inadequate gestational weight gain according to iom recommendations and intergrowth-21st standards: the araraquara cohort study

BACKGROUND

Gestational weight gain (GWG) is a critical factor for maternal and fetal health.

OBJECTIVE

To identify maternal predictors of inadequate GWG according to the 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations and Intergrowth-21st standards.

METHODS

A prospective epidemiological cohort study conducted from 2017 to 2023 in southeastern Brazil assessed 1,557 women at three different stages of pregnancy (≤ 18, 20-26, and 30-36 weeks of gestation) and at delivery. Sociodemographic, obstetric, lifestyle, nutritional, and maternal morbidity characteristics were collected, along with biochemical parameters.

RESULTS

Among the participants, 38.7% had GWG above IOM recommendations, while 67.5% had GWG above the Intergrowth-21st standards. Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that women with pre-pregnancy obesity and women with the highest body fat percentage had, respectively, a 95% (OR = 1.95; 95% CI: 1.08-3.51) and 1% (OR = 1.01; 95% CI: 1.01-1.05) higher chance of GWG above IOM recommendations. Pregnant women in the lowest tertile of height, smokers, number of previous pregnancies, and women living in crowded homes had, respectively, a 57% (OR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.41-0.80), 36% (OR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.37-0.86), 35% (OR = 0.65; 95% CI: 0.43-0.97), and 14% (OR = 0.86; 95% CI: 0.59-0.86) lower chance of GWG above IOM recommendations. Women with diabetes were 2.53 times more likely (OR = 2.53; 95% CI: 1.32-4.83) to have GWG below IOM recommendations. Using the Intergrowth-21st standards, women with the highest body fat percentage had a 12% (OR = 1.12; 95% CI: 1.02-1.24) higher chance of GWG above the 90th percentile. Pregnant women in the lowest tertile of height were 2.82 times more likely (OR = 2.82; 95% CI: 1.08-8.13) and women with the lowest hemoglobin concentrations had a 41% lower chance (OR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.39-0.88) of having GWG below the 10th percentile. While both guidelines identified body fat percentage and pre-pregnancy obesity as significant predictors of excessive GWG, the Intergrowth-21st standards captured a higher percentage of women exceeding GWG limits.

CONCLUSION

The findings underscore the importance of comparing two instruments for assessing the adequacy of GWG. The IOM and Intergrowth-21st standards provide complementary insights, which can help implement targeted interventions for specific groups of women based on their nutritional and socioeconomic status, lifestyle, and obstetric factors to prevent pregnancy-related complications.

The impact of gestational weight gain on fetal and neonatal outcomes: the Araraquara Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Gestational weight gain (GWG) is an important indicator for monitoring maternal and fetal health.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of GWG outside the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) on fetal and neonatal outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN

A prospective cohort study with 1642 pregnant women selected from 2017 to 2023, with gestational age ≤ 18 weeks and followed until delivery in the city of Araraquara, Southeast Brazil. The relationship between IOM-recommended GWG and fetal outcomes (abdominal subcutaneous tissue thickness, arm and thigh subcutaneous tissue area and intrauterine growth restriction) and neonatal outcomes (percentage of fat mass, fat-free mass, birth weight and length, ponderal index, weight adequateness for gestational age by the Intergrowth curve, prematurity, and Apgar score) were investigated. Generalized Estimating Equations were used.

RESULTS

GWG below the IOM recommendations was associated with increased risks of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) (aOR 1.61; 95% CI: 1.14-2.27), low birth weight (aOR 2.44; 95% CI: 1.85-3.21), and prematurity (aOR 2.35; 95% CI: 1.81-3.05), and lower chance of being Large for Gestational Age (LGA) (aOR 0.38; 95% CI: 0.28-0.54), with smaller arm subcutaneous tissue area (AST) (-7.99 g; 95% CI: -8.97 to -7.02), birth length (-0.76 cm; 95% CI: -1.03 to -0.49), and neonatal fat mass percentage (-0.85%; 95% CI: -1.12 to -0.58). Conversely, exceeding GWG guidelines increased the likelihood of LGA (aOR 1.53; 95% CI: 1.20-1.96), with lower 5th-minute Apgar score (aOR 0.42; 95% CI: 0.20-0.87), and increased birth weight (90.14 g; 95% CI: 53.30 to 126.99).

CONCLUSION

Adherence to GWG recommendations is crucial, with deviations negatively impacting fetal health. Effective weight control strategies are imperative.

Depression during pregnancy and gestational weight gain: A study of Brazilian pregnant women

OBJECTIVES

The relationship between psychosocial factors/mental health/depressive symptoms and inadequate gestational weight (GW) change remains poorly understood. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the association between depressive symptoms and inadequate GW change according to the criteria established by the Institute of Medicine in 2009.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was part of a prospective cohort, and conducted in Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. Pregnant women who received prenatal care at basic health care units in the city participated in the study (n = 297). The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to assess depressive symptoms during pregnancy, and the cutoff point used for the positive screening of depressive symptoms was ≥13. The association between depressive symptoms and two outcomes (insufficient and excessive weight change during second and third trimesters) was investigated using logistic regression models with adjustment for potential confounders. Crude and adjusted effect measures (odds ratios) and their relevant 95% confidence intervals were estimated.

RESULTS

There was an association between a positive score for depression during pregnancy and insufficient GW gain. No association was observed between depressive symptoms and excessive GW gain.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of depressive symptoms significantly increased the chance of insufficient GW change. This finding enhances the need for screening for depression in prenatal care.

Effectiveness of a minimally processed food-based nutritional counselling intervention on weight gain in overweight pregnant women: a randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of a nutritional counselling intervention based on encouraging the consumption of unprocessed and minimally processed foods, rather than ultra-processed products, and the practice of physical activities to prevent excessive gestational weight gain in overweight pregnant women.

METHODS

This was a two-armed, parallel, randomized controlled trial conducted in primary health units of a Brazilian municipality from 2018 to 2021. Overweight, adult pregnant women (n = 350) were randomly assigned to control (CG) or intervention groups (IG). The intervention consisted of three individualized nutritional counselling sessions based on encouraging the consumption of unprocessed and minimally processed foods rather than ultra-processed products, following the NOVA food classification system, and the practice of physical activities. The primary outcome was the proportion of women whose weekly gestational weight gain (GWG) exceeded the Institute of Medicine guidelines. Adjusted logistic regression models were employed.

RESULTS

Complete data on weight gain were available for 121 women of the IG and 139 of the CG. In modified intention-to-treat analysis, there was a lower chance of the IG women having excessive GWG [OR 0.56 (95% CI 0.32, 0.98), p = .04], when compared to the CG. No between-group differences were observed for the other maternal outcomes investigated.

CONCLUSION

The present study was unprecedented in demonstrating that nutritional counselling based on the NOVA food classification system, together with encouraging the practice of physical activity, is effective in preventing excessive weight gain in overweight pregnant women.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Registered on July 30th 2018 at Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (RBR-2w9bhc).

Macrosomia Risk Factors and Perinatal Outcomes: A 1-year Cohort Study

AIM: This study aims to identify possible risk factors and concurrently investigates how macrosomia impacts mothers and neonates. STUDY DESIGN: The study is a retrospective cohort of data obtained in a large tertiary obstetrics and neonatal unit over 1 year, from anuary 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019. Data of all deliveries conducted at the institution were accessed. In addition, singleton and term pregnancies were included for further analysis. Multiple pregnancies, premature births, stillbirths, non-vertex presentations, and being lost to follow-up served as exclusion criteria. A database of the cases was constructed and data regarding maternal constitutional parameters, mode of delivery, shoulder dystocia, perineal trauma, and postpartum hemorrhage were collected. Further on, pregnancies were divided accordingly into two groups: Macrosomic fetuses (>4000 g) and non-macrosomic fetuses (<4000 g). The two groups were compared to assess possible macrosomia risk factors and maternal-neonatal outcomes. Statistical analysis is done using the Mann–Whitney-U and Chi-square tests. Significance was set as p < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 3408 deliveries met the inclusion criteria of the study. The macrosomia rate is 10.3%. The mean age (30.1 ± 5.17 years vs. 28.9 ± 8.4 years, p < 0.05) and, body mass index (29.2 ± 3.54 vs. 26.1 ± 2.78, p < 0.05) was significantly higher in the macrosomia group. Women that gained more than 12.5 kg have nearly twice the odds of delivering a big baby (odds ratio [OR] 1.86, confidence interval [CI] 1.47–2.36, p < 0.001). No statistically significant differences were noted regarding cases of gestational diabetes (p = 0.56). Cesarean sections were preferred to vaginal deliveries in the macrosomic group (39.3% vs. 29.7%, OR 1.53, CI 1.2–1.9, p = 0.001). The risk of undergoing an emergency procedure is 6-fold higher in pregnancies with macrosomic newborns (20.5% vs. 13.6%, OR 6.1, CI 4.45–8.36, p < 0.001). Both episiotomy rate (40.45% vs. 31.9%, OR 1.44, CI 1.15–1.81, p = 0.001) and lacerations (3.13 % vs. 1.44%, OR 2.21, CI 1.13–4.33, p = 0.02) were higher in the macrosomic group. CONCLUSION: The study concludes that macrosomia is associated with an increase in maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes.

Dietary Pattern Influences Gestational Weight Gain: Results from the ProcriAr Cohort Study-São Paulo, Brazil

The maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) influence maternal and infant outcomes. This study identified patterns of habitual dietary intake in 385 pregnant women in São Paulo and explored their associations with excessive weight gain (EGWG). Weight at the first visit (<14 weeks) was used as a proxy for pre-pregnancy weight. Food consumption was assessed using the 24HR method, administered twice at each gestational trimester, and dietary patterns were identified by principal component analysis. Three dietary patterns were identified: “Vegetables and Fruits,” “Western,” and “Brazilian Traditional.” Descriptive data analysis was performed using absolute and relative frequencies for each independent variable and multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression was used to analyze excessive gestational gain weight (EGWG) and dietary patterns (DP). The Brazilian Traditional dietary pattern showed a protective effect on EGWG (p = 0.04) and age > 35 years (p = 0.03), while subjects overweight at baseline had a higher probability of EGWG (p = 0.02), suggesting that the identification of dietary and weight inadequacies should be observed from the beginning of pregnancy, accompanied by nutritional intervention and weight monitoring throughout the gestational period to reduce risks to the mother and child’s health.

Association between gestational weight gain and pregnancy outcomes in a Singaporean population: A prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Inadequate or excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. We aimed to study GWG in a Singaporean population and its association with pregnancy outcomes, including small for gestational age (SGA), macrosomia, and caesarean section secondary to failure to progress (FTP) or cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD).

STUDY DESIGN

926 women with low-risk singleton pregnancy were enrolled in a prospective cohort study from 2010 to 2014 in a Singapore tertiary maternity hospital. 704 patients without pre-existing diabetes or hypertension and had maternal weight information till term pregnancy were included in analyses. Participants were categorized according to their first antenatal visit body mass index (BMI) as underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese. Total GWG for each BMI group was calculated and compared to Institute of Medicine (IOM) 2009 GWG guidelines. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association of GWG below or above IOM guidelines with pregnancy outcomes.

RESULTS

GWG below IOM guidelines was associated with an increased risk of SGA (adjusted OR: 2.97 [1.71, 5.15]; p < 0.0001). GWG above IOM guidelines significantly increased the risk of caesarean section due to FTP or CPD (adjusted OR: 2.10 [1.09, 4.01]; p = 0.0275). GWG above IOM guidelines was associated with an increased risk of macrosomia (adjusted odds ratio: 2.27 [1.43, 3.63]; p = 0.0006), while GWG below IOM guidelines was associated with a reduced risk of macrosomia (adjusted odds ratio: 0.18 [0.08, 0.39]; p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

GWG not achieving the IOM recommendations has been found to be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in Singaporean women. Inadequate GWG is associated with an increased risk of SGA whereas excessive GWG is associated with increased risks of macrosomia and caesarean section due to failure to progress or CPD. Results of the current study add to our understanding on the association of GWG with pregnancy outcomes in the South-East Asia and suggest that appropriate weight management during pregnancy is important.

Dietary Patterns during Pregnancy and Gestational Weight Gain: A Systematic Review

The present systematic review (PROSPERO: CRD42020148630) hypothesizes the association of excessive weight gain during pregnancy with dietary patterns composed of ultraprocessed foods. Thus, the objective was to investigate the association between dietary patterns after analysis and weight gain during pregnancy. The search for articles was performed in nine databases. Two reviewers selected the articles in the databases and extracted from them the data used in the review. Two scales were used to evaluate the quality of the selected studies: New Castle-Ottawa Quality Assessment for cohort-based studies and Appraisal tool for Cross-Sectional Studies (AXIS) for cross-sectional-based studies. In total, 11 studies were identified with sample size variation (n = 173-5,733). Women presenting more adherence to healthy and traditional patterns (fruits, vegetables, salads, nuts, and dairy) recorded less excessive gestational weight gain (GWG). Higher intake of mixed patterns and western patterns rich in ultraprocessed foods were associated with a higher prevalence of excessive GWG (24.48-55.20%). Gestational dietary patterns a posteriori-derived that have presented ultraprocessed components rich in fat and sugars presented association with high GWG; healthy and traditional dietary patterns were related to better mother-child health conditions, such as adequate GWG.

Gestational weight gain and risk of postpartum depression: A meta-analysis of observational studies

The association between gestational weight gain (GWG) and postpartum depression (PPD) is still controversial. The present study aimed to assess the association between GWG and the risk of developing PPD by means of a meta-analysis. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, China Biology Medicine disk, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Weipu, and Wanfang database were searched up to May 19, 2021 to identify relevant studies that evaluated the association between GWG and PPD. Meta-analysis was conducted by using RevMan software and Stata software. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were carried out to explore the potential heterogeneity source, and Begg's funnel plots and Begg's linear regression test were performed to assess the potential publication bias. A total of sixteen studies involving 100,438 participants were identified in this study. Overall, the total, excessive and inadequate GWG was significantly associated with a higher risk of developing PPD. These results emphasize the necessity of strengthening the prevention and intervention of excessive and inadequate weight gain during pregnancy to promote maternal and infant health. However, further studies on the association between GWG at different stages of pregnancy and the risk of developing PPD are warranted.

Effective Macrosomia Prediction Using Random Forest Algorithm

(1) Background: Macrosomia is prevalent in China and worldwide. The current method of predicting macrosomia is ultrasonography. We aimed to develop new predictive models for recognizing macrosomia using a random forest model to improve the sensitivity and specificity of macrosomia prediction; (2) Methods: Based on the Shandong Multi-Center Healthcare Big Data Platform, we collected the prenatal examination and delivery data from June 2017 to May 2018 in Jinan, including the macrosomia and normal-weight newborns. We constructed a random forest model and a logistic regression model for predicting macrosomia. We compared the validity and predictive value of these two methods and the traditional method; (3) Results: 405 macrosomia cases and 3855 normal-weight newborns fit the selection criteria and 405 pairs of macrosomia and control cases were brought into the random forest model and logistic regression model. On the basis of the average decrease of the Gini coefficient, the order of influencing factors was: interspinal diameter, transverse outlet, intercristal diameter, sacral external diameter, pre-pregnancy body mass index, age, the number of pregnancies, and the parity. The sensitivity, specificity, and area under curve were 91.7%, 91.7%, and 95.3% for the random forest model, and 56.2%, 82.6%, and 72.0% for logistic regression model, respectively; the sensitivity and specificity were 29.6% and 97.5% for the ultrasound; (4) Conclusions: A random forest model based on the maternal information can be used to predict macrosomia accurately during pregnancy, which provides a scientific basis for developing rapid screening and diagnosis tools for macrosomia.

Gestational weight gain adequacy for favourable obstetric and neonatal outcomes: A nationwide hospital-based cohort gestational weight gain for favourable obstetric and neonatal outcomes

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Most Brazilian women fail to gain weight within recommendations during pregnancy but current guidelines about gestational weight gain was based on North American population analysis. There are no standardized recommendations developed from Brazilian population data, which should be particularly analysed due to ethnic and sociodemographic characteristics. This study analyses the gestational weight gain of Brazilian women with favourable obstetric and neonatal outcomes according to the pre-pregnancy body mass index, considering maternal sociodemographic characteristics.

METHODS

We analysed data from the Birth in Brazil: national survey into labour and birth study, a nationwide hospital-based cohort carried out in 266 Brazilian hospitals from February/2011 to July 2012, including adult pregnant women who have no chronic diseases and who have single foetal gestation, born alive and without malformation. Favourable obstetric and neonatal outcomes considered were gestational age at birth greater than or equal to 37 and less than 42 weeks, birthweight between 2500 g and 4000 g, and birthweight suitable for gestational age. Sociodemographic characteristics were obtained from medical records and interviews. Weight and height information was obtained from the prenatal card or self-reported. The pre-pregnancy BMI was classified in low weight, normal weight, overweight, obesity I, obesity II, and obesity III. For the missing cases on pre-pregnancy weight or height, body mass index was imputed by multiple imputation prediction model. Gestational weight gain was the difference between the last weight before delivery and the pre-pregnancy weight and was presented as mean and confidence interval, mean and standard deviation, and percentiles distribution (10th to 90th) for each pre-pregnancy body mass index, thus compared to Institute of Medicine recommendations.

RESULTS

The analysis included 8184 Brazilian women. The gestational weight gain was lower in women with less favoured social conditions. The mean gestational weight gain according to pre-pregnancy body mass index was within the Institute of Medicine recommendations, except for women with overweight or obesity class I, who have the mean weight gain higher than upper limit of the Institute of Medicine range. Gestational weight gain decreased with an increase in the categories of body mass index; the mean (±standard deviation) were: 15.41 kg (±5.53), 13.54 kg (±4.97), 12.45 kg (±5.86), 9.38 kg (±6.31), 7.15 kg (±6.43), and 5.04 kg (±7.10), for low weight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity I, II and III, respectively. Women had favourable obstetric and neonatal outcomes gaining less, within or more than the recommendations with higher range of variation amongst obesity classes I, II, and III which do not have specific ranges stated in Institute of Medicine guidelines.

CONCLUSION

Brazilian women had favourable obstetric and neonatal outcomes gaining less, within or more than the Institute of Medicine recommendations. We highlight the need of population-based high-quality research to investigate the optimal GWG recommendations for this population.

Determining optimal gestational weight gain (GWG) in a northwest Chinese population: A CONSORT

ABSTRACT

To determine optimal gestational weight gain (GWG) for the Chinese population.Live singleton deliveries at the largest maternal & childcare hospital in northwest China from 2010 to 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the lowest aggregated risk of interested perinatal outcomes based on Chinese adult body mass index (BMI) categories.Eight thousand eight hundred seventy enrolled parturients were divided into 4 groups according to their prepregnancy BMI: underweight (21.31%, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (67.81%, 18.5 kg/m2 ≤ BMI < 24 kg/m2), overweight (8.99%, 24 kg/m2 ≤ BMI < 28 kg/m2 and obese (1.89%, BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2). The optimal GWG values for the above 4 groups were 16.7 kg (GWG range, 12.0-21.5), 14.5 kg (9.5-19.5), 11.5 kg (7.0-16.5), and 8.0 kg (5.0-13.0). The rates of inadequate, optimal and excessive GWG in present study were 6.14% (545), 62.34% (5529), and 31.52% (2796) respectively, which were significantly different from those of the 2009 Institute of Medicine recommendation (χ2 = 1416.05, Pinteraction < 0.0001).Wider optimal GWG ranges than those recommended by Institute of Medicine were found in our study, and our proposed criteria seems to be practical to the Chinese population.

Optimal gestational weight gain in Chinese pregnant women by Chinese-specific BMI categories: a multicentre prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To establish optimal gestational weight gain (GWG) in Chinese pregnant women by Chinese-specific BMI categories and compare the new recommendations with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) 2009 guidelines.

DESIGN

Multicentre, prospective cohort study. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the OR, 95 % CI and the predicted probabilities of adverse pregnancy outcomes. The optimal GWG range was defined as the range that did not exceed a 1 % increase from the lowest predicted probability in each pre-pregnancy BMI group.

SETTING

From nine cities in mainland China.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 3731 women with singleton pregnancy were recruited from April 2013 to December 2014.

RESULTS

The optimal GWG (ranges) by Chinese-specific BMI was 15·0 (12·8-17·1), 14·2 (12·1-16·4) and 12·6 (10·4-14·9) kg for underweight, normal weight and overweight pregnant women, respectively. Inappropriate GWG was associated with several adverse pregnancy outcomes. Compared with women gaining weight within our proposed recommendations, women with excessive GWG had higher risk for macrosomia, large for gestational age and caesarean section, whereas those with inadequate GWG had higher risk for low birth weight, small for gestational age and preterm delivery. The comparison between our proposed recommendations and IOM 2009 guidelines showed that our recommendations were comparable with the IOM 2009 guidelines and could well predict the risk of several adverse pregnancy outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Inappropriate GWG was associated with higher risk of several adverse pregnancy outcomes. Optimal GWG recommendations proposed in the present study could be applied to Chinese pregnant women.

Gestational weight gain and adverse maternal outcomes in Brazilian women according to body mass index categories: An analysis of data from the Birth in Brazil survey

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Monitoring gestational weight gain (GWG) is relevant for perinatal outcomes, especially in the context of increasing obesity and overweight in the female population. This study analyses the association between GWG in Brazilian women, according to different body mass index (BMI) categories, and different outcomes, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), gestational diabetes (GD) and caesarean section.

METHODS

Data on women from all the major regions of Brazil with a single pregnancy of a gestational age of 28 weeks or more and information available for anthropometric evaluation were included in the Birth in Brazil survey. Adequacy of GWG was assessed according to the percentile distribution of GWG of women with favourable neonatal outcomes, with the median of the distribution referred to as 100% adequacy in the GWG evaluation.

RESULTS

The study consisted of 18,953 women, 58.3% of whom were normal weight and 35.1% were overweight. The adequacy of GWG was better amongst the normal weight women (91.1%) and worse amongst those with class III obesity (46.0% with excessive GWG), with the latter showing the highest occurrence of adverse outcomes. Results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that weight gain above 200% of the median in the normal weight, overweight and obese women was positively associated with HDP and caesarean section, but not with GD.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed ranges of appropriate GWG associated with favourable neonatal outcomes based on the data from the Birth in Brazil survey proved good predictors of HDP and caesarean section amongst the women included in the study.

Gestational weight gain and its effect on birth outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa: Systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

An increased metabolic demand during pregnancy is fulfilled by gaining sufficient gestational weight. Women who gain inadequate-weight are at a high-risk of premature birth or having a baby with low-birth weight. However, women who gain excessive-weight are at a high-risk of having a baby with macrosomia. The aim of this review was to determine the distribution of gestational weight gain and its association with birth-outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa.

METHODS

For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we performed a literature search using PubMed, Medline, Embase, Scopus, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases. We searched grey-literature from Google and Google Scholar, and region-specific journals from the African Journals Online (AJOL) database. We critically appraised the included studies using the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. Two independent reviewers evaluated the quality of the studies and extracted the data. We calculated pooled relative-risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Of 1450 retrieved studies, 26 met the inclusion criteria. Sixteen studies classified gestational weight gain according to the United States Institute of Medicine recommendations. The percentage adequate amount of gestational weight ranged from 3% to 62%. The percentage of inadequate weight was >50% among nine studies. Among underweight women, the percentage of women who gained inadequate gestational weight ranged from 67% to 98%. Only two studies were included in the meta-analyses to evaluate the association of gestational weight gain with pre-eclampsia and macrosomia. No difference was observed among women who gained inadequate and adequate gestational weight regarding experiencing pre-eclampsia (RR, 0.71; 95% CI: 0.22, 2.28, P = 0.57). Excessive gestational weight gain was not significantly associated with macrosomia compared to adequate weight gain (RR, 0.68; 95% CI: 0.38, 1.22, P = 0.20).

CONCLUSION

A substantial proportion of sub-Saharan African women gain inadequate gestational weight particularly high among underweight women. Future interventions would need to design effective pre-pregnancy weight management strategies.

Study Protocol effectiveness of a nutritional intervention based on encouraging the consumption of unprocessed and minimally processed foods and the practice of physical activities for appropriate weight gain in overweight, adult, pregnant women: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Evidence from observational studies suggests that a greater intake of ultra-processed foods during pregnancy is associated with a higher chance of obesity, increased gestational weight gain, and neonatal adiposity. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a nutritional intervention based on encouraging the consumption of unprocessed and minimally processed foods and the practice of physical activities for appropriate weight gain in overweight, adult, pregnant women. Additionally, the effect of the intervention on pregnancy outcomes, neonatal adiposity, and the child's weight and height will be investigated.

METHODS

This is a two-armed parallel randomized controlled trial that will be conducted at primary health units in Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. Adult pregnant women who are overweight and receiving prenatal care in the public health system will be included. The women will be randomly allocated into control (standard care) or intervention groups. Those enrolled in the intervention group will participate in three individualized nutritional counselling sessions based on encouraging the consumption of unprocessed and minimally processed foods and the practice of physical activities. The recruitment of the participants will be carried out at seven health facilities over 12 months, with a sample of 300 women expected. Maternal anthropometric, sociodemographic, blood pressure, biochemical, and lifestyle data will be obtained at baseline (up to the 16th week of gestation), and during a second assessment (34th to 36th gestational week). The neonate body composition will be estimated after birth, and data on pregnancy outcomes, weight and height of children at 6, 12 and 24 months of age will be further obtained from medical records.

DISCUSSION

This will be the first randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of a nutritional intervention based on encouraging the consumption of unprocessed and minimally processed foods and the practice of physical activities for appropriate weight gain in adult, overweight, pregnant women. Furthermore, the effect of the intervention on pregnancy outcomes, neonatal adiposity and the child's weight and height will be evaluated.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos (Rebec) RBR-2w9bhc July 30th 2018 (http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/?q=RBR-2w9bhc+), and RBR-7yx36h June 4th 2019 (http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/?q=RBR-7yx36h+0.

Factors associated with fetal macrosomia

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical factors, as well as weight gain, in a group of pregnant women, associating them with fetal macrosomia in a public institution in Antioquia, Colombia, from 2010-2017.

METHODS

A case-control study, using secondary information registries. Cases were defined using newborn weight of ≥ 4000g, while controls were defined as newborn weight between 3000–3999g. A proportion ratio (PR) was established to evaluate factors associated with macrosomia, and a generalized linear model (GLM) of Poisson regression with robust variance was used to evaluate the aspects that best explained macrosomia in the neonate.

RESULTS

122 pregnant women participated in the study, of which 611 were cases and 61 were controls. Of the participants, 44.3% had pre-pregnancy overweight and 48.4% had excess gestational weight gain. Statistically significant differences were found between the groups in the following variables: pre-pregnancy BMI (p = 0.004), gestational weight gain (p = 0.000), gestational diabetes (p = 0.000), and type of delivery (p = 0.004). According to the regression model, a macrosomic newborn is 3.5 times more likely in women with excessive gestational weight gain (95%CI 1.78-7.18) and twice more likely in women who have gestational diabetes (95%CI 1.51-2.76). Of women with pre-pregnancy excess weight, 63% had excess gestational weight gain.

CONCLUSIONS

Within this cohort, pre-pregnancy BMI, excess weight gain in pregnancy, and the presence of gestational diabetes were associated with an increased risk of neonatal macrosomia. pre-pregnancy BMI and weight gain in pregnancy are modifiable risk factors that are responsive to nutrition interventions, which can minimize adverse perinatal outcomes.

Role of Body Mass Index and gestational weight gain on preterm birth and adverse perinatal outcomes

The association of body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) with preterm birth (PTB) remains controversial in the literature. To evaluate different maternal BMI and GWG categories, according to the initial BMI, in relation to different PTB subtypes and perinatal outcomes, we conducted a secondary analysis of a multicentre cross-sectional study, along with a nested case-control study including PTB from 20 centers in Brazil. Pre-pregnancy underweight was associated with a lower risk of provider-initiated PTB, while overweight and obesity were associated with a higher risk of provider-initiated PTB and a lower risk of spontaneous preterm birth. Insufficient gestational weight gain was associated with a higher prevalence of spontaneous PTB and preterm premature rupture of membranes. Excessive GWG correlated with a higher prevalence of provider-initiated PTB or preterm premature rupture of membranes. Irrespective of the initial BMI, the greater the rate of GWG, the higher the predicted probability of all PTB subtypes, except for spontaneous PTB in underweight women and those with normal BMI. On multivariate analysis, the initial BMI was shown to be the only factor associated with pi-PTB. Briefly, further studies evaluating the risk for PTB should consider that GWG may have a different role depending on the initial BMI and PTB subtype.

Are women in Singapore gaining weight appropriately during pregnancy: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

We aimed to study gestational weight gain (GWG) in a Singaporean population and compare it with Institute of Medicine (IOM) 2009 GWG guidelines.

METHODS

Nine hundred twenty-six women with low-risk singleton pregnancy were enrolled in a prospective cohort study from 2010 to 2014 in a Singapore tertiary maternity hospital. Seven hundred twenty-four patients had maternal weight information till term pregnancy and were included in analysis. Participants were categorized according to their first antenatal visit body mass index (BMI) as underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese. Total GWG for each BMI group was calculated. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine the predictors of total GWG above and below IOM guidelines.

RESULTS

Obese women had a mean total GWG (9.1 kg) that exceeded the upper limit IOM guidelines (9 kg). In multivariate analysis of predictors of total GWG above IOM guidelines, being overweight (adjusted OR: 3.91 [95% CI, 2.60-5.88]; p < .0001) and obese (adjusted OR: 4.78 [95% CI, 2.80, 8.15]; p < .0001) significantly increased the risks of gaining weight above IOM guidelines during pregnancy, compared to being normal weight.

CONCLUSIONS

Overweight and obesity are independent significant risk factors for gaining excessive gestational weight. Appropriate weight management for overweight and obese Singaporean women prior to and during pregnancy is important.

Maternal Body Mass Index and Gestational Weight Gain and Their Association with Pregnancy Complications and Perinatal Conditions

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of selected pregnancy pathologies statistically depending on overweight/obesity and excessive maternal weight gain during pregnancy on women who gave birth in the years 2013-2015 at the Second Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the University Hospital in Bratislava, Slovakia. In a retrospective study, we analyzed data gathered from the sample, which consisted of 7122 women. Our results suggest a statistically significant, higher risk for the groups of women with overweight and obesity and gestational hypertension (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 15.3; 95% CI 9.0-25.8 for obesity), preeclampsia (AOR = 3.4; 95% CI 1.9-6.0 for overweight and AOR = 13.2; 95% CI 7.7-22.5 for obesity), and gestational diabetes mellitus (AOR = 1.9; 95% CI 1.2-2.9 for overweight and AOR = 2.4; 95% CI 1.4-4.0 for obesity). A higher incidence of pregnancies terminated by cesarean section was observed in the group of obese women. Gestational weight gain above IOM (Institute of Medicine) recommendations was associated with a higher risk of pregnancy terminated by C-section (AOR = 1.2; 95% CI 1.0-1.3), gestational hypertension (AOR = 1.7; 95% CI 1.0-2.7), and infant macrosomia (AOR = 1.7; 95% CI 1.3-2.1). Overweight and obesity during pregnancy significantly contribute to the development of pregnancy pathologies and increased incidence of cesarean section. Systematic efforts to reduce weight before pregnancy through prepregnancy dietary counseling, regular physical activity, and healthy lifestyle should be the primary goal.

Factors Associated with Excessive Gestational Weight Gain Among Brazilian Mothers

BACKGROUND

Gestational Weight Gain (GWG) is an important predictor of maternal and child health.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cross-sectional study was carried out in a public maternity unit of a hospital in a Brazilian metropolis that aimed to evaluate the factors associated with excessive GWG. Data were collected on food consumption, anthropometry, and on socioeconomic, demographic, and health status. The GWG was obtained by consulting each woman's gestational record. The association between GWG and the other variables was assessed using the chi-square test with the Bonferroni correction, with a significance level of 5%.

RESULTS

We evaluated 98 mothers with a mean age of 25.4 ± 6.8 years and a postpartum time of 2.5 ± 1.2 days. Before pregnancy, 42.9% of this population was overweight. The mean GWG was 12.2 ± 6.5 kg, with 39.8% classified with excessive GWG. A higher prevalence of excessive GWG was observed among mothers who had higher per capita income (p = 0.003), had had cesarean delivery (p = 0.016), lower limbs edema (p = 0.012), and excess weight before pregnancy (p = 0.001). There was no significant association of GWG with eating habits.

CONCLUSIONS

Excessive GWG is associated with socioeconomic and nutritional factors. Nutritional monitoring during prenatal care may favor effective interventions and contribute to positive outcomes for both maternal and child health.

Gestational weight gain counselling gaps as perceived by pregnant women and new mothers: Findings from the electronic maternal health survey

PROBLEM

Too much or too little gestational weight gain (GWG) can negatively impact maternal and fetal health, according to Institute of Medicine Guidelines.

BACKGROUND

Health care providers are key players in providing reliable evidence-informed prenatal advice related to appropriate GWG. However, there appears to be inconsistent GWG communication among healthcare providers during prenatal care.

AIM

To determine pregnant women and new mothers' perceptions of healthcare provider GWG and dietary counselling during the pregnancy period.

METHODS

A reliable and validated cross-sectional electronic survey was administered to currently pregnant women and women who had recently given birth. The web-based questionnaire was self-administered and took 10-25min.

FINDINGS

A total of 1507 eligible women participated in the survey. More than half (57%) reported that their healthcare provider talked to them about personal weight gain limits. Of these participants, about a third (34%) of participants were counselled regularly at each or most visits. Among the women that were not counselled on personal GWG limits, over half (56%) reported that healthcare provider guidance would have been helpful to achieve their target weight. Less than half (45%) of participants reported that their healthcare providers discussed dietary requirements or changes in pregnancy.

DISCUSSION

These findings highlight areas for improvement in prenatal dialogue, which can support better outcomes for both mother and baby.

CONCLUSION

A better understanding of pregnant and mothers' perceptions about weight and diet counselling is needed to understand what may need greater attention and clarification and to improve such dialogue.

Gestational Weight Gain among Healthy Pregnant Women from Asia in Comparison with Institute of Medicine (IOM) Guidelines-2009: A Systematic Review

In 1990, Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommended gestational weight gain (GWG) ranges for women in the United States primarily to improve infant birth weight. Changes in key aspects of reproductive health of women of child bearing age, a rising prevalence of obesity, and noncommunicable diseases prompted the revision of IOM guidelines in 2009. However, there is no such recommendation available for Asian women. This systematic review assesses the utility of IOM-2009 guidelines among Indian and other Asian pregnant women in terms of maternal and fetal outcomes. 624 citations were identified using PubMed and Google Scholar, out of which 13 were included. Prospective/retrospective studies of healthy Asian women with a singleton pregnancy which specifically examined fetal-maternal outcomes relative to IOM-2009 guidelines were included. Results. Majority of pregnant Indian women achieved less GWG than the recommendations whereas a mixed trend was noticed among the other Asian pregnant women. The most common fetal-maternal complications among the excessive GWG women were found to be macrosomia, large for gestational age and caesarean section followed by gestational diabetes and hypertension, whereas low birth weight, small for gestational age and preterm birth, was found to be associated with low GWG women. The findings highlight the need for appropriate GWG limits across the different body mass index levels specifically for Indians and other Asian population. However, there are not enough publications regarding the utility of IOM-2009 guidelines among the Indian and other Asian women. Thus, higher-quality researches are warranted in future to further validate the findings of the present review.

Gestational diabetes: weight gain during pregnancy and its relationship to pregnancy outcomes

BACKGROUND

Weight gain during pregnancy reflects the mother's nutritional status. However, it may be affected by nutritional therapy and exercise interventions used to control blood sugar in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This study aimed to evaluate weight gain during gestation and pregnancy outcomes among women with GDM.

METHODS

A retrospective study involving 1523 women with GDM was conducted between July 2013 and July 2016. Demographic data, gestational weight gain (GWG), blood glucose, glycated-hemoglobin level, and maternal and fetal outcomes were extracted from medical records. Relationships between GWG and pregnancy outcomes were investigated using multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

In total, 451 (29.6%) women showed insufficient GWG and 484 (31.8%) showed excessive GWG. Excessive GWG was independently associated with macrosomia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.50-3.52, P < 0.001), large for gestational age (aOR 2.06, 95% CI 1.44-2.93, P < 0.001), small for gestational age (aOR 0.49, 95% CI 0.25-0.97, P = 0.040), neonatal hypoglycemia (aOR 3.80, 95% CI 1.20-12.00, P = 0.023), preterm birth (aOR 0.45, 95% CI 0.21-0.96, P = 0.040), and cesarean delivery (aOR 1.45, 95% CI 1.13-1.87, P = 0.004). Insufficient GWG increased the incidence of preterm birth (aOR 3.53, 95% CI 1.96-6.37, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Both excessive and insufficient weight gain require attention in women with GDM. Nutritional therapy and exercise interventions to control blood glucose should also be used to control reasonable weight gain during pregnancy to decrease adverse pregnancy outcomes.

How to classify BMI among pregnant adolescents? A prospective cohort

OBJECTIVE

Pregnancy in adolescence is a global health issue, especially in developing countries. Additionally, the recommended gestational weight gain (GWG) is usually based on pre-pregnancy BMI and that might be complex for pregnant teens. The study objective was to compare three different methods of BMI classification and suggest the best way of determining pre-pregnancy BMI and monitoring GWG among pregnant adolescents.

DESIGN

Pre-pregnancy weight, weight at first prenatal visit, height, sociodemographic, reproductive and perinatal data were collected. Weighted kappa and McNemar statistics were used to assess agreement between the classification methods.

SETTING

Prof. Dr Jose Aristodemo Pinotti Women's Hospital, University of Campinas, Brazil.ParticipantsPrimiparas younger than 19 years of age and with less than 20 weeks of gestational age (n 150).

RESULTS

BMI of the primiparas was determined according to the WHO recommendation for adult women, the Child Growth Standards (CGS) and their gynaecological age (GA). The WHO and GA measurements presented a strong agreement with each other (κ w=0·99; 95 % CI 0·97, 1·00), but did not agree with the CGS classification (κ w=0·62; 95 % CI 0·50, 0·74 by WHO; κ w=0·62; 95 % CI 0·51, 0·74 by GA). Also, inadequate GWG was observed in 72·2 % of cases and was correlated with a higher rate of caesarean birth.

CONCLUSIONS

BMI classification according to the CGS differed from WHO and GA. However, CGS and WHO agreed on perinatal outcomes. We recommend using BMI classification by WHO to assess pregnant adolescents, since it is easily applied and better known among health professionals.

Dietary patterns and their association with adiponectin and leptin concentrations throughout pregnancy: a prospective cohort

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of dietary patterns (DP) with maternal adiposity indicators, leptin, adiponectin and insulin concentrations during pregnancy. A prospective cohort of pregnant women followed up at the 5th-13th, 20th -26th and 30th-36th gestational weeks and 30-40 d postpartum was conducted in Rio de Janeiro. A FFQ was administered in the third trimester (30th-36th gestational weeks). The reduced rank regression procedure was used to identify DP that explain response variables (dietary fibre and total fat) related to indicators of maternal adiposity (postpartum weight retention and gestational weight gain (GWG) adequacy), and plasma leptin, adiponectin and insulin concentrations. The associations between tertiles of DP and the outcomes were determined using logistic regression or longitudinal linear mixed-effect regression models. The mean daily energy intake during pregnancy was 10 104 (sd 3234) kJ (2415 (sd 773) kcal), and GWG was 11·9 (sd 4·2) kg. In all, 40 % of women presented pre-gestational overweight/obesity. Excessive GWG occurred in 34·7 % of pregnant women and 56·6 % were overweight/obese at postpartum. The 'common-Brazilian' DP (characterised by higher intake of beans, rice and lower intake of fast food/snacks, candies/table sugar and processed meats/bacon) was positively associated with adiponectin (β=1·07; 95 % CI 0·17, 1·98). The 'Western' DP (characterised by higher intake of fast food/snacks and processed meat/bacon and lower intake of noodles/pasta/roots/tubers and sodas) was negatively associated with adiponectin (β=-1·11; 95 % CI -2·00, -0·22) and positively associated with leptin concentrations (β=64·9; 95 % CI 22·8, 107·0) throughout pregnancy. It may be suggested that the 'common-Brazilian' is a healthy DP and beneficial for serum concentrations of adiponectin and leptin.

A novel body mass index reference range - an observational study

OBJECTIVE

To generate a new body mass index curve of reference values and ranges for body mass index and weight gain during pregnancy and to compare the new curve and weight gain ranges with the currently used references.

METHODS

A prospective observational study was conducted with a total of 5,656 weight and body mass index measurements in 641 women with single pregnancy who attended their first prenatal visit before 12 weeks. All the women were over 18 years old and had no medical conditions that would influence body mass index. Data were collected using prenatal charts and medical records during hospitalization for childbirth. A linear regression method was used for standard curve smoothing in the general population and for specific curves according to the baseline body mass index classification. Curves were obtained for the 5th, 10th, 50th, 85th, 90th and 95th percentiles. Concordance between the classification of women using the newly generated and currently used curves was evaluated by percentages and kappa coefficients. The weight gain was compared with the reference values of the Institute of Medicine using Student's T test. The data were analyzed using SAS software version 9.2, and the significance level was set at 5%.

RESULTS

A general reference curve of percentiles of body mass index by gestational age was established. Additionally, four specific curves were generated according to the four baseline body mass index categories. The new general curve offered percentile limits for women according to their initial body mass index and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention limits, showing poor agreement with the currently used curve (48.3%). Women who were overweight or obese when starting prenatal care had higher weight gain than the Institute of Medicine recommendation.

CONCLUSIONS

The new proposed curve for body mass index during pregnancy showed weak agreement with the currently used curve. The new curve provided more information regarding body mass index increase using percentiles for general and specific groups of body mass index. Overweight pregnant women showed an upward body mass index trend throughout pregnancy that increased more dramatically than those of other groups of pregnant women, and they also presented a major mean difference between weight gain and the Institute of Medicine recommendation.

Determining optimal gestational weight gain in the Korean population: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The World Health Organization (WHO) international body mass index (BMI) cut-off points defining pre-pregnancy BMI categories in the Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines are not directly applicable to Asians. We aimed to define the optimal gestational weight gain (GWG) for the Korean population based on Asia-specific BMI categories.

METHODS

Data from 2702 live singleton deliveries in three tertiary centers between 2010 and 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the lowest aggregated risk of composite perinatal outcomes based on Asia-specific BMI categories. The perinatal outcomes included gestational hypertensive disorder, emergency cesarean section, and fetal size for gestational age. In each BMI category, the GWG value corresponding to the lowest aggregated risk was defined as the optimal GWG.

RESULTS

Among the study population, 440 (16.3%) were underweight (BMI < 18.5), 1459 (54.0%) were normal weight (18.5 ≤ BMI < 23), 392 (14.5%) were overweight (23 ≤ BMI < 25) and 411 (15.2%) were obese (BMI ≥ 25). The optimal GWG by Asia-specific BMI category was 20.8 kg (range, 16.7 to 24.7) for underweight, 16.6 kg (11.5 to 21.5) for normal weight, 13.1 kg (8.0 to 17.7) for overweight, and 14.4 kg (7.5 to 21.9) for obese.

CONCLUSION

Considerably higher and wider optimal GWG ranges than recommended by IOM are found in our study in order to avoid adverse perinatal outcomes. Revised IOM recommendations for GWG could be considered for Korean women according to Asian BMI categories. Further prospective studies are needed in order to determine the optimal GWG for the Korean population.

Effect of Obesity on Gestational and Perinatal Outcomes

Purpose To assess the impact of pre-pregnancy obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m2) on the gestational and perinatal outcomes. Methods Retrospective cohort study of 731 pregnant women with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 at the first prenatal care visit, comparing them with 3,161 women with a BMI between 18.5 kg/m2 and 24.9 kg/m2. Maternal and neonatal variables were assessed. Statistical analyses reporting the demographic features of the pregnant women (obese and normal) were performed with descriptive statistics followed by two-sided independent Student's t tests for the continuous variables, and the chi-squared (χ2) test, or Fisher's exact test, for the categorical variables. We performed a multiple linear regression analysis of newborn body weight based on the mother's BMI, adjusted by maternal age, hyperglycemic disorders, hypertensive disorders, and cesarean deliveries to analyze the relationships among these variables. All analyses were performed with the R (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria) for Windows software, version 3.1.0. A value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Obesity was associated with older age [OR 9.8 (7.8-12.2); p < 0.01], hyperglycemic disorders [OR 6.5 (4.8-8.9); p < 0.01], hypertensive disorders [OR 7.6 (6.1-9.5); p < 0.01], caesarean deliveries [OR 2.5 (2.1-3.0); p < 0.01], fetal macrosomia [OR 2.9 (2.3-3.6); p < 0.01] and umbilical cord pH [OR 2.1 (1.4-2.9); p < 0.01). Conversely, no association was observed with the duration of labor, bleeding during labor, Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes after birth, gestational age, stillbirth and early neonatal mortality, congenital malformations, and maternal and fetal injury. Conclusion We observed that pre-pregnancy obesity was associated with maternal age, hyperglycemic disorders, hypertension syndrome, cesarean deliveries, fetal macrosomia, and fetal acidosis.

Interpregnancy weight changes and impact on pregnancy outcome in a cohort of women with a macrosomic first delivery: a prospective longitudinal study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the median interpregnancy maternal weight change between first and second pregnancies, and second and third pregnancies and to assess the impact of this weight change on pregnancy outcome in a cohort of women with a macrosomic first delivery.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective longitudinal study conducted over three pregnancies from 2007 to 2015.

SETTING

Tertiary referral maternity hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

PARTICIPANTS

Women were recruited if their first baby weighed >4.0 kg.

METHODS

The pregnancy outcomes in the second and third pregnancies were analysed separately. Data were also analysed for both interpregnancy intervals comparing outcomes for those who gained any weight, or more weight than the median, with those who did not.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Recurrent fetal macrosomia ≥4.0 kg and gestational diabetes mellitus.

RESULTS

There were 280 women who delivered a third baby between 2011 and 2015. There were no differences in pregnancy outcomes for the second pregnancy in women who gained interpregnancy weight compared with those who did not and those who gained more interpregnancy weight than the median compared with those who did not. There was a statistically significant increase in birth weight ≥4.0 kg (54.0% vs 39.6% p=0.03) in those women who gained any weight between the second and third pregnancies. In those women who gained more interpregnancy weight than the median (1.70 kg) between a second and third pregnancy, there was a significant increase in the rate of gestational diabetes (6.5% vs 1.4%, p=0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

This longitudinal study demonstrates that within this cohort maternal interpregnancy weight change between a second and third pregnancy is associated with an increase in birth weight ≥4.0 kg. Additionally, a gain of more weight than the median (1.70 kg) is associated with a higher rate of gestational diabetes.

Prepregnancy Body Mass Index as a Significant Predictor of Total Gestational Weight Gain and Birth Weight

Purpose: We aimed to describe adherence to gestational weight gain (GWG) recommendations and identify determinants of excessive GWG in a sample of women from Quebec, Canada.

Methods: Data were collected from the multi-centre 3D (Design, Develop, Discover) pregnancy cohort study, which included women who delivered between May 2010 and August 2012 at 9 obstetrical hospitals in Quebec, Canada. GWG was calculated for 1145 women and compared to the 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations.

Results: Overall, 51% of participants exceeded the recommendations. Approximately 68% of women with obesity gained weight in excess of the IOM recommendations. The corresponding numbers were 75%, 44%, and 27% in overweight, normal weight, and underweight women, respectively. A prepregnancy BMI of 25 kg/m2 or more was the only significant predictor of exceeding GWG recommendations (OR 3.35, 95% CI 2.44–4.64) in a multivariate model. Birth weight was positively associated with GWG. GWG and prepregnancy BMI could explain 3.13% and 2.46% of the variance in birth weight, respectively.

Conclusion: About half of women exceeded GWG recommendations, and this was correlated with infant birth weight. This reinforces the need to develop and evaluate strategies, including nutritional interventions, for pregnant women to achieve optimal GWG.

Maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by overweight and obesity

BACKGROUND

Overweight and obesity are associated with pregnancy complications and adverse perinatal outcomes, posing short and long-term risks for maternal and child health. This study evaluated maternal, delivery and neonatal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by overweight and obesity.

METHODS

This prospective cross-sectional study included 258 pregnant women. According to prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), participants were classified as normal weight, overweight, or obese. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test and analysis of variance followed by the Tukey test. Logistic regression was performed to calculate odds ratios and 95 % confidence intervals (p < 0.05).

RESULTS

Most women ≥ 35 years old were overweight (22.7 %) and obese (27.6 %). Prepregnancy diabetes was significantly associated with obesity (15.7 %, p < 0.000). Obese women showed the lowest weight gain (9.6 ± 7.5Kg). Overweight and obese women practiced physical exercise more frequently (p = 0.010) than normal weight women. A greater proportion of obese mothers (13.4 %) had large for gestational age babies (p = 0.021), with higher thoracic circumference (33.6 ± 2.0 cm) and abdominal circumference (31.6 ± 2.3 cm). Obesity increased the risk of developing hypertension (OR = 7.0; 3.1-15.9), hyperglycemic disturbances (OR = 5.5; 2.9-10.6) and HbA1c ≥ 6.5 % (OR = 3.7; 1.2-11.1). The infants born to obese mothers had longer hospital stay (3.9 ± 3.9 days) (p = 0.005).

CONCLUSION

Our results confirm that obesity in pregnancy can lead to adverse outcomes, and underscore the importance of identifying and treating inadequate weight status during pregnancy.