Maternal obesity and pregnancy: a retrospective study
Angela M Kerrigan1, Carol Kingdon
1Midwifery Research Department, Room 54, Antenatal Clinic, Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust, Crown Street, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK. angela.kerrigan@lwh.nhs.uk
Objectives:
to establish the incidence of obesity in the pregnant population in a large city in the North West of England, identify links between obesity and social deprivation, and compare outcomes of pregnancy in obese and non-obese women.
Design:
retrospective cohort study using maternal records.
Setting:
largest maternity hospital in Europe.
Participants:
8176 women who gave birth at the study hospital in 2006.
Findings:
data showed that 17.7% of women were clinically obese. Obesity rates increased with advancing age. The incidence of pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, induction of labour, caesarean section and fetal macrosomia was significantly higher amongst the obese population. No relationship was found between obesity and social deprivation.
Conclusions:
this study ascertained the exact incidence of maternal obesity in the local area and showed the increased risks associated with obesity and pregnancy.
Implications For Practice:
this study supports the need for a shared-care approach to antenatal care and that obese women should give birth in consultant-led units. The support of a named midwife should be available to these women throughout the childbearing experience, and preconception care advocated.
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