Animesh Naskar1 , Aparna Chakraborty2 , Rupkamal Das3 , Bharat Chandra Mandi4
BACKGROUND Maternal weight gain during pregnancy plays very important role in the outcomes of pregnancy. The study aims to show the relation between gestational weight gain in women with normal prepregnant weight and foetal as well as maternal complications during delivery. METHODS Healthy women (n= 300) with normal weight before pregnancy (body mass index 19.5-25.5 Kg/m2 ) were randomly selected. Maternity records gave information on age, parity, education, height, prepregnant weight, gestational weight gain, smoking, gestational hypertension, diabetes, preeclampsia, mode of delivery, delivery complications, neonatal birth weight etc. Chi square and one-way ANOVA were used in the univariate analysis of the association between gestational weight gain and adverse outcomes (low birth weight, IUGR, preterm labor, preeclampsia, cesarean). Multiple logistic regression analysis was also used, while controlling the following factors: age, parity and education. RESULTS The mean weight gain in pregnancy was 9.89 ± 2.68 Kg. (mean ± standard deviation). The mean birth weight was 2.94 ± 0.94 Kg. (mean ± standard deviation). A low weight gain (≤7.5 Kg) in pregnancy was highly associated with increased incidence of low birth weight baby (p12 Kg) was significantly associated with increased incidence of preeclampsia, cesarean delivery, and foetal macrosomia (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Efforts should be made to attain proper weight gain and avoid low weight gain to optimize the birth outcome as well as to avoid maternal complications like preeclampsia.
