Relationship between maternal early pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and weight gain during pregnancy with pregnancy outcomes: a cross-sectional study

One of the factors affecting the outcome of pregnancy is the primary body mass index (BMI) and the amount of weight gain during pregnancy. This study aimed to check the relationship between mother's initial body mass index and weight gain in pregnancy with pregnancy outcomes.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 455 pregnant women referred to Afzalipour Hospital in Kerman, Iran, from August 2021 to August 2022. These pregnant women were included in the study through easy and accessible sampling. The mother's initial weight was recorded through the mother's health card. The height of the mother was measured using a standard meter and the final weight of the mother before delivery was measured using a standard scale available in the department. Other information of the mothers was extracted from their records. Weight gain during pregnancy and initial body mass index were calculated and divided into four categories, less than normal, normal, overweight and obese. Maternal-fetal complications were included in the information registration form. Descriptive and analytical statistical methods and SPSS version 24 software were used to analyze the data.

The average age of women was 27.56±6.82 years. Body mass index of more than 40% of them (44.4%) was normal (19.8-26) and more than 45% of them were overweight 11.5-16 (45.5%). There was a significant relationship between initial body mass index and weight gain during pregnancy (P=0.001), gestational diabetes (P=0.001) and newborn weight (P=0.019). There was also a significant relationship between weight gain during pregnancy with premature birth (P=0.001), vaginal delivery (P=0.001), gestational diabetes (P=0.001) and newborn Apgar (P=0.001).

High body mass index of the mother and weight gain during pregnancy can cause complications in the mother and the fetus. Therefore, prenatal care should be done more carefully and health care providers should place mothers who have abnormal body mass index and inappropriate weight gain in pregnancy in the high-risk group and under special care to minimize maternal and fetal complications.