Publication:

The impact of maternal obesity on intra-partum events during pregnancy: a retrospective study at Puducherry

Background Women with excessive weight at the time of conception are prone to a wide spectrum of adverse pregnancy outcomes including major postpartum haemorrhage, increased caesarean section rates, increased operational vaginal deliveries and higher risks of maternal hypertension, gestational diabetes and fetal death.

Methods This retrospective case-control study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Ariyur, Puducherry by comparing 100 obese women (cases) with 100 Non-obese, normal weighted women (controls) in terms their intra-partum pregnancy events and outcomes.

Results Obese women (42%) had an increased risk of having a caesarean section (OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.31-5.1) when compared to the controls (22%). Instrumental delivery rate was significantly higher (p=0.02) in the study group (24%) compared to 11% in the control group (OR 2.56, 95% CI 1.1-6.1). Postpartum haemorrhage (>500 ml) encountered during vaginal deliveries was 32% in the obese group which was significantly higher (p<0.001) when compared with 9% in the control group (OR 4.76, 95% CI 2-12).

Conclusions Obese women had increased incidence of difficult intra-partum events like increased blood loss and post-partum haemorrhage, increased requirement of oxytocin augmentation, higher rates of caesarean and instrumental deliveries, when compared to non-obese women.