Pregnancy, obesity, gestational weight gain, and parity as predictors of peripartum complications

To determine if the best predictor of pregnancy complications is pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) alone or in combination with other factors.

BMI and peripartum outcomes of singleton pregnancies were evaluated. Recursive partitioning and logistic regression modeling was used.

Of the 4,286 cohorts, 26% were obese (BMI >30 kg/m(2)) and, compared to cohorts with normal weight, at risk for wound infections (P < 0.001), and shoulder dystocia (P < 0.001). High-risk patients (15%; BMI >32.5, parity, pregnancy weight gain of 28 lb by 28 weeks) were at increased risk for wound infection (P < 0.001), endometritis (P < 0.001), shoulder dystocia (P = 0.001) and 5 min Apgar score <4 (P < 0.041) and at lower risk for pre-term delivery (P = 0.007).

Since BMI, parity, and weight gain until 28 weeks together provide better prediction of peripartum complications than BMI alone, these characteristics can be used to triage and refer patients.