Publication:

Maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by maternal obesity

Background Maternal obesity imparts elevated maternal and neo natal adverse outcomes. Aim of the study was to evaluate and analyse the maternal and neonatal outcomes in obese mothers.

Methods This was a prospective case control study in a tertiary care high risk referral center. Antenatal women with first trimester Body mass index (BMI) of more than 30 Kg/m2 constituted the cases and those antenatal women with BMI <25 Kg/m2 formed the controls.

Results Mean age was slightly more (28.6±4.3 years vs 26.3±3.6 years: P<0.0001) in the obese group. Obese women were significantly more likely to have  of gestational diabetes (OR 5.2, 95% CI 3.2-8.7 P<0.00001), gestational hypertension (Or 3.5, 95% CI 2.1-5.9 P<0.0001) , induction of labour (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.8-3.6 P<0.0001), failed induction of labour (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3-4.2 P=0.003), Preeclampsia (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.6-4.9 P=0.0002), Caesarian section (Or 4.0, 95% CI 2.9-5.9 P<0.0001) and Postpartum hemorrhage (OR 4.0,95% CI 1.1-14.3 P=0.034), prolonged hospital stay (OR 12.8, 95% CI 7.7-21.1 P<0.0001)  and adverse neonatal outcomes such as low(<7) Apgar (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.1-10.0 P=0.03), Large for gestational age babies (OR 3.1, 95% Cl 2.1-4.5 P<0.0001) and transfer to new born nursery (OR 3.4, 95% CI 2.3 -5.2 P<0.0001).

Conclusions Maternal obesity in pregnancy is high risk and has many adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes warranting specialized antenatal, intranatal and post-natal care.