[Prenatal care and weight gain during pregnancy]

To study the relationships between prepregancy body index mass (BMI), women's gestational weight gain and nutritional education during pregnancy.

We conducted a cross-sectional study on 400 women hospitalized during pregnancy. Initial data included records on age, nutritional education during pregnancy and prepregnancy body mass index (BMI). The gestational weight gain was determined by using the weight registered in the obstetrics department before delivery.

In the group of overweight and obese women, 53.1% and respectively 66.7% registered a weight gain above the Institute of Medicine's recommendations, compared with 29.8% of normal weight women (p<0.001). Among the women with low pre-pregnancy BMI, 26.7% registered a weight gain below the guidelines (p<0.001). The nutritional education was associated with an appropriate weight gain in 44.3% women, compared with 40.7% who didn't receive any advice. The number of visits to the general practitioner and the obstetrician were associated with achieving recommended weight gain: 3.7% (no control), 38.3% (1-4 visits), 58% (more than 4 visits), and respectively 12.3% (no control), 24.7% (1 to 4 visits), 63% (more than 4 visits) (p<0.001).

The number of checks carried out during pregnancy plays an important role in achieving a weight gain within the guidelines. The individualized nutritional education has a positive impact on maintaining the recommended weight gain during pregnancy.