Fetal macrosomia at 4500 gm: prevalence and determinants

ABSTRACT

Foetal macrosomia with a weight higher than 4500g, is observed in approximately 1.5% of pregnancies at term. It is a high-risk condition for mother and infant with an important morbidity and mortality risk. The objective of our retrospective and comparative study [1999-2002] was to evaluate the prevalence of foetal macrosomia [birth weight >/= 4500 g] and to describe the maternal characteristics in pregnancies with foetal macrosomia. All births with a weight >/= 4500g [n°321] were compared with two control groups, the first with a birth weight between 4000 and 4500g [n° 240] and the second with a birth weight between 3500 to 4000g [n° 241]. On our total of 12835 newborns, we had 2.9% with a birth weight >/= 4500g. The comparative study showed that the determining factors macrosomia were a maternal age of >/= 36 year, a parity of >/= 4, a maternal weight of >/= 90kg, a history of gestational family or macrosomia and history of diabetes mellitus in the family