Optimal gestational weight gain: prepregnancy BMI specific influences on adverse pregnancy and infant health outcomes

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A Chen1, C Xie2, A M Vuong1

  • 1Division of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.

Journal of Perinatology : Official Journal of the California Perinatal Association
|January 20, 2017
PubMed

Insights

New gestational weight gain (GWG) guidelines may be needed. This study refines optimal GWG recommendations based on individual prepregnancy BMI units to reduce risks of adverse birth outcomes.

Area of Science:

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

Background:

  • The 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines for gestational weight gain (GWG) are based on broad prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) categories.
  • Refining GWG recommendations for individual BMI units may optimize pregnancy outcomes and reduce risks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To refine optimal GWG recommendations for each prepregnancy BMI unit.
  • To assess the relationship between GWG and risks of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) and large-for-gestational-age (LGA) births, cesarean section (C-section), and infant death.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a large dataset of 836,841 Ohio birth records from 2006 to 2012.
  • Applied generalized additive models to determine optimal GWG based on individual prepregnancy BMI units.

Main Results:

  • Optimal GWG recommendations aligned with IOM 2009 guidelines for BMIs below 25 kg/m².
  • Higher GWG was suggested for BMIs between 25-32 kg/m², while lower GWG was recommended for BMIs 38-50 kg/m².
  • Specific GWG ranges were provided for prepregnancy BMIs from 15 to 50 kg/m².

Conclusions:

  • Current GWG recommendations may benefit from refinement at the individual prepregnancy BMI level.
  • Personalized GWG targets could potentially improve maternal and infant health outcomes.
Abstract

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