Fit for Birth - the effect of weight changes in obese pregnant women on maternal and neonatal outcomes: a pilot prospective cohort study

R P Narayanan, A D Weeks, S Quenby, D Rycroft, A Hart, H Longworth, M Charnley, J Abayomi, J Topping, M A Turner, J P H Wilding

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (journal)peer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)
32 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

UNLABELLED: The 'Fit for Birth' study aimed to explore patterns of gestational weight gain and their relationship with pregnancy outcomes. The study had three aims: 1. To explore the feasibility of conducting a large cohort study in this setting. 2. To describe patterns of weight gain through pregnancy in obese women. 3. To explore associations of weight change during pregnancy with outcomes.

STUDY POPULATION: Pregnant women with a BMI ≥ 30 kg m(-2) at first antenatal clinic visit.

METHODS: This was a single centre pilot observational study based at the Liverpool Women's Hospital, a large UK maternity hospital.Women were recruited into the study at their antenatal booking visit and had weights measured throughout pregnancy. Patterns of weight gain were described and related to maternal and neonatal outcomes.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The primary outcome was a composite measure consisting of any of 12 adverse maternal and foetal outcomes. This was compared by categorized pregnancy weight gain (<0 kg, 0-5 kg, 5.1-9 kg and >9 kg).

RESULTS: Eight hundred and twenty four women consented to participation between June 2009 and June 2010. Weight data were collected on 756 women. Only 385 women had weights measured in all three study assessment periods (6-20 weeks, 20 + 1 to 32 weeks and >32 weeks gestation) while 427 women had weights measured in period 3. Individual patterns of weight gain varied widely and missing data were common and non-random. There was a significant association between increased weight gain during pregnancy and poor maternal and foetal outcome.

CONCLUSIONS: Weight gain in obese women during pregnancy can be highly variable. Our study supports an association between increased weight gain in pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)79-88
Number of pages10
JournalClinical obesity
Volume6
Issue number1
Early online date6 Jan 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 6 Jan 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Obesity/physiopathology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications/physiopathology
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Pregnant Women
  • Prospective Studies
  • United Kingdom
  • Weight Gain
  • Young Adult
  • maternal outcome
  • neonatal outcome
  • Gestational weight gain
  • obesity

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