A Prospective study on Effect of Prepregnancy BMI and Gestational Weight Gain on Fetomaternal Outcome

BACKGROUND: Maternal body mass index (BMI) and antenatal weight gain is of prime importance to successful outcome of both mother and baby. The problems during pregnancy were more related to low BMI previously, but with changing lifestyle, obesity is increasing rapidly especially in urban setups and may become a major health problem in the future. If approached properly, these adverse events could be avoided. AIM OF THE STUDY: The study was undertaken to explore the effects of prepregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain on maternal and neonatal outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted at Raja Mirasudar hospital, Thanjavur Medical College, Thanjavur during January 2019 to December 2019. The Study involves 300 pregnant women, who were categorized according to Asian BMI Classification and were then followed up. Their Gestational weight gain (GWG) was calculated as the difference between the women’s pregestational weight and her weight at delivery ,and further were categorised based on IOM (Institute of Medicine) recommended GWG and their association with fetomaternal outcomes were studied. RESULTS: Of the total 300 pregnant women, 120 (40%) were normal weight, 60 (20%) overweight and 30 (10%) obese. In terms of gestational weight gain 146 (48.7%) were appropriate, 56 (18.7%) inadequate and 98(32.6%) excess. Obese women group and those with excessive weight gain had significantly higher proportion of hypertensive cases, gestational diabetes, cesarean section, PPH and thromboembolic events like CVT/DVT compared to the normal weight (p<0.001) and appropriate weight gain group (p<0.001). Relatively higher proportion of macrosomia babies were born to obese women and those with excessive weight gain. Fifty six (18.7%) of study subjects had gestational weight gain below the cut-off value (p