Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 2, 2026

Instrumentation of Near-term Fetal Sheep for Multivariate Chronic Non-anesthetized Recordings
Published on: October 25, 2015
Maternal body composition at term gestation and birth weight: is there a link?
G Larciprete1, H Valensise, B Vasapollo
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Isola Tiberina 39, I-00186, Rome, Italy. glarciprete@libero.it
Abstract:
To assess the relative influence of maternal body composition at late gestation on birth weight, we examined maternal body composition near term (36.50+/-2.67 weeks gestation) in a group of 29 women, aged 20-39 years. The women came to the laboratory after an overnight fast. After anthropometric measurements, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) was performed, determining resistance (R) and reactance (Xc), with a Tefal scale at 50 kHz. Fat mass (FM, kg) and fat-free mass (FFM, kg) were determined with the total body water (TBW) equation of Siri. The correlation between BIA parameters and birth weights was examined by linear regression analysis. All subjects delivered between 37 and 41 weeks' gestation. The mean+/-SD values of the studied parameters were: Xc=490.00+/-77.34 ohm, R=55.71+/-8.71 ohm, FM=24.18+/-6.51 kg, FFM=45.82+/-2.65 kg, maternal weight gain=9.51+/-6.43 kg, birth weight=3.43+/-0.36 kg. A direct significant correlation was found between FFM, maternal weight gain, and birth weight. It is known that in late pregnancy, maternal weight gain over gestation is linked to birth weight. We observed that FFM was the most important maternal body component associated with the newborn weight at term gestation, and we believe that this finding might be elucidated by fluid retention. In fact, resistance seemed to be inversely related to birth weight and we do not overlook the link between resistance and TBW. The implementation of our study could shed more light on the influence of maternal body composition on birth weight.
More Related Videos
12:17The 4-vessel Sampling Approach to Integrative Studies of Human Placental Physiology In Vivo
Published on: August 2, 2017
05:44Concurrent Collection of Fetal Murine Brain and Serum to Assess Effects of Maternal Diet on Nutrition and Neurodevelopment in Neurofibromatosis Type 1
Published on: May 17, 2024
Related Concept Videos
Anatomy of the Intestines
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the small...
Regression Toward the Mean
Teratogenicity
Fetal Circulation
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
Pathophysiology of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
Development of the Oral Microbiota