ABSTRACT
Maternal obesity adversely affects perinatal outcome through increasing rates of hypertensive disease during pregnancy, diabetes, cesarean section and fetal macrosomia. To investigate the prevalence of prepregnancy over weight and obesity and their impact on pregnancy and perinatal outcomes in Jordan. A prospective study comparing prepregnancy BMI categories with pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. University teaching hospital. Singleton term babies [>37 weeks] born in the year 2009. A total of 2129 newborns were categorized according to their mothers self reported body mass index [BMI] into three groups [normal, over weight and obese]. Multivariate regression analysis was performed. The main outcomes were pregnancy induced hypertension, gestational diabetes, mode of delivery, birthweight, neonatal admission and death. A total 2129 newborns were identified. The incidence of overweight and obese mothers was 33.6% and 12.5%, respectively. In comparison to mothers with normal BMI, overweight and obese mothers were older and more likely to be multiparious. Their pregnancy was at a significantly higher risk for pregnancy-induced hypertension, gestational diabetes, Cesarean delivery, induction of labor, giving birth to a macrocosmic baby and neonatal admission. Obese women were less likely to have instrumental delivery. Babies born to overweight and obese mothers were not at a higher risk of having other short adverse perinatal outcomes. Increasing prepregnancy BMI was associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes. Effective Interventional programs are important implications for health policy for counseling mothers during antenatal, postnatal and primary health care visit