Maternal Body Characteristics and Birth weight of Fullterm Infants

Ko, K S; Park, H Y; Shin, G C; Ha, J W; Jin, K; Park, C H

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Our aim is to examine the association of maternal body characteristics and fullterm infant birthweight without complications.
METHODS
We used data collected from 307 pregnant women who delivered fullterm singleton infants without complications in Dankook University Hospital from November 1995 to December 1996. Fifteen cases of SGA infants were identified and other infants were analysed as controls. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed for controlling maternal age, parity, years of education and maternal height. Adjusted odds ratios[AOR] and 95% confidence intervals[CI] were calculated.
RESULTS
In the underweight mothers, the pre-pregnancy body weight, body weight at delivery, total body weight gain and delivery of SGA infants were greater than that in the normal weight mothers. The adjusted odds ratios for delivery of SGA infants were 6.2 in the women of BMI less than 19.8 kg/m2, 9.9 of pre-pregnancy body weight less than 50 kg, 25.0 of body weight at delivery less than 60 kg, and 5.5 of gestational weight gain less than 12.5 kg. The risk of delivering SGA infants was not increased in the women of height over than 155 cm, of education less than 12 years, of multiparity and with occupation.
CONCLUSION
Women of underweight and inadequate weight gain during pregnancy may be associated with fetal growth restriction. We should focus to check maternal body characteristics to ensure the adequate infant birthweight for prenatal care.