The influence of maternal weight gain to birth weight.

Kim, Hee Yeon; Kim, Yon Ju; Choi, Eun Kyung

Original Article

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2005;48(10):2307-2312.
Published online October 1, 2005.

The influence of maternal weight gain to birth weight.

Hee Yeon Kim, Yon Ju Kim, Eun Kyung Choi

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
²National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea. womandr@korea.com

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Birth weight of the newborns is the major factor affecting maternal, childhood mortality and morbidity. The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of maternal weight gain and Body Mass Index (BMI) gain by trimester of pregnancy on birth weight of newborns. METHODS: The data of 73 women who delivered at our institute from March 2004 to June 2004 were analyzed. Maternal weight gain and BMI gain during pregnancy was calculated. Statistical analysis was done. RESULTS: The standardized woman in 1.6 m height had total 12.5 kg weight gain during pregnancy. The BMI was calculated. Women with total BMI gain over 4.88 were grouped in over BMI group. The BMI gain by trimester and gestational age of pregnancy were analyzed. Maternal BMI gain in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy influences more strongly newborns' weight than does in the 1st or 2nd trimester. CONCLUSION: We considered that maternal BMI gain during each trimester of pregnancy was a marker of newborns' weight gain.

Key Words: Birth weight, Maternal weight gain, BMI, Pregnancy