The effect of maternal obesity on the course of labor
Maribelle Verdiales1, Carlos Pacheco, Wayne R Cohen
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and the Weill Cornell Medical College, NY, USA.
Aim:
To determine whether maternal obesity is associated with dysfunctional labor patterns.
Methods:
In a case-control design we compared the graphic labor patterns of a group of 105 very obese subjects [body mass index (BMI) >35 kg/m(2)] with those of 113 lean controls (BMI<26 kg/m(2)). All entered spontaneous labor at term. Cases with birth weights >4 kg, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and prior cesarean delivery were excluded.
Results:
The obese group had a significantly higher frequency of arrest of dilatation (17.6 vs. 5.2%; P=0.005).
Conclusions:
Maternal obesity is associated with active phase labor dysfunction, specifically arrest of dilatation.
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