Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 18, 2026

Concurrent Collection of Fetal Murine Brain and Serum to Assess Effects of Maternal Diet on Nutrition and Neurodevelopment in Neurofibromatosis Type 1
05:44

Concurrent 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

Association between maternal and fetal weight gain: cohort study

Bárbara Miranda Ferreira Costa1, Régis Resende Paulinelli, Maria Alves Barbosa

  • 1Department of Nutrition, Universidade Paulista, Goiânia, Brazil. babinut@hotmail.com

Sao Paulo Medical Journal = Revista Paulista De Medicina
|September 12, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Excessive gestational weight gain significantly increases fetal birth weight and the risk of macrosomia. This finding highlights the importance of monitoring maternal weight during pregnancy to prevent complications.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Excessive gestational weight gain is a known risk factor for adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.
  • Macrosomia, a condition of excessive fetal growth, is associated with numerous complications, including intrauterine death and childhood obesity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal gestational weight gain and fetal birth weight.
  • To determine the incidence of macrosomia in relation to maternal weight gain patterns.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study was conducted with 200 healthy pregnant women in two public maternity hospitals.
  • Participants were divided into groups based on normal versus excessive gestational weight gain.
  • Fetal birth weight and macrosomia incidence were compared between the groups.

Main Results:

  • Women with excessive gestational weight gain had significantly higher fetal birth weights (3,388.83 g ± 514.44 g) compared to those with normal weight gain (3,175.86 g ± 413.70 g).
  • The incidence of macrosomia was 13.0% in the excessive weight gain group, versus 0.0% in the normal weight gain group.
  • Overall macrosomia incidence in the study population was 6.5%.

Conclusions:

  • Excessive maternal weight gain during pregnancy is strongly associated with increased fetal birth weight.
  • Maternal weight gain patterns directly impact the incidence of macrosomia, underscoring the need for management strategies.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Instrumentation of Near-term Fetal Sheep for Multivariate Chronic Non-anesthetized Recordings14:40

Instrumentation of Near-term Fetal Sheep for Multivariate Chronic Non-anesthetized Recordings

Published on: October 25, 2015

Related Concept Videos

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
Regression Toward the Mean01:52

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when researchers try to extrapolate results...
Longitudinal Studies01:26

Longitudinal Studies

Longitudinal studies are also widely used in other medical and social science fields. For instance, in cardiovascular research, they can monitor patients' health over decades to identify risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol or smoking, and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of preventive measures. Similarly, in mental health studies, researchers might follow individuals from adolescence into adulthood to understand the development and progression of conditions like...
Fetal Circulation01:14

Fetal Circulation

Fetal circulation is a unique system that facilitates the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products between the developing fetus and the mother. This intricate process takes place through a special organ called the placenta.
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 Diabetes01:20

Pathophysiology of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational 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 Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...