Fetal Macrosomia at a Tertiary Care Centre in Lagos, Nigeria

Large babies have attracted immense attention as they present obstetric problems with associated increase in perinatal morbidity and mortality. The major risk of fetal macrosomia is trauma to the fetus and mother during vaginal delivery.

To compare the outcome of macrosomic babies with babies of normal birth weights.

This was a retrospective comparative study of deliveries over a period of two years from 1 "August 2005 to 31st July 2007.

There were 198 macrosomic babies (6.9%) out of a total of 2,879 deliveries that occurred within the study period. Majority of the mothers were multiparous; para 2 to 4 (47.5% in the study group and 33.7% in the control group). Emergency Caesarean Section (EMCS) rate in the study group was 44.4% while it was 25.3% in the control group and this was statistically significant (p value <0.001). In this study the maternal injuries in the study group were not significantly higher than the control group. The fetal morbidity and mortality in the study group was significantly higher than the control group both with p values <0.001.

Fetal macrosomia is associated with high morbidity and mortality in this centre, there is a need to identify pregnant women at risk as well as adequate counseling of possible interventions and outcomes.