Influence of pre-pregnancy weight, maternal height and weight gain during pregnancy on birth weight

ABSTRACT

To study the effect of pre-pregnancy weight, maternal height and weight gain during pregnancy on birth weight. Design: A community based longitudinal study. Setting: The study was conducted in the rural field practice area of the Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka State, India. Study Period Between 1st June 1996 to 31st January 1998. Subjects: A total of 75 pregnancies were followed up till delivery. Main outcome and measures: Pre-pregnancy weight, maternal height, weight gain during pregnancy and other baseline characteristics were collected using a pre-tested proforma. Weight of the baby was recorded immediately after birth. The mean pre-pregnancy weight and maternal height were 43.7 kg [SD=6.6] and 154.2 cm [SD=5.2] respectively. The mean weight gain during pregnancy was found to be 8.0 kg [SD=2.6]. The mean birth weight was 2869.7 gm [SD=467.2] with a range of 1380-3800gm. A statistically significant correlation was observed between pre-pregnancy weight [r =0.4, p<0.001], maternal height [r=0.36, p=0.001], weight gain during pregnancy [r=0.52, p<0.001] and birth weight. Interpretation and Multiple regression analysis revealed that pre-pregnancy weight, maternal height and weight gain during pregnancy were independently associated with birth weight