Mother's BMI and pregnancy outcomes

To determine the role of mother's BMI on pregnancy outcomes.

This was a cross-sectional study of 294 pregnant women aged 18-35 years, with term cephalic presentation, singleton attending to Barn maternity hospital for childbirth related to their BMI they were grouped as: underweight (BMI<9.8), normal (19.8<BMl<26) and overweight (BMl>26). Data were collected by a questionnaire and were analyzed descriptively.

The mean of first phase of delivery in underweight women was (7/73+-5/77) minutes more than of overweight women (3/32+-5/11) minutes. This difference was not statistically significant. The mean of third of delivery in normal weight was more than of under and overweight women, but not statistically significant. The mean of babies weight in over weight was more than of in under and normal weights, but the mean of APGAR Scores in over weights was low. The cesarean rate in over weights was 28.9%, in normal was 15.2% and in under weights was 4.5%. These differences were statistically significant.

The findings suggest there is need to advise women to keep their weight normal before and during pregnancy to prevent adverse outcomes.