Changes in maternal anthropometric measurements in the first postpartum month and associated factors

Maternal anthropometry offers a rapid, inexpensive, and non-invasive method for assessing nutritional status during pregnancy. We aimed to assess the changes in maternal anthropometric measurements in the first month after delivery and to investigate the factors associated with longitudinal changes in maternal postpartum nutritional status.

This prospective longitudinal study included 147 mothers who were on the 5th postpartum day applied to outpatient clinics, from January 2018 through January 2020. Each mother completed a structured questionnaire and baseline anthropometric measurements were performed at the postpartum 5th day and re-evaluated at the end of the first month after delivery.

Mother-infant pairs (n = 147).

At the end of the first postpartum month, maternal body weight (relative change -5.1%, 95% CI: -5.6%;-4.6%), muscle mass ratio (-1.6%, 95% CI: -2.4%;-0.9%) and body fluid ratio (-2.4%, 95% CI: -3.1%;-1.7%) decreased, whereas fat mass ratio increased (10.3%, 95% CI: 9.0%;11.6%).There was a significant association between infants' feeding type and maternal BMI, weight, muscle mass ratio, body fluid ratio, triceps, and biceps skinfold thickness in mothers (p < .05). We also found a significant relationship between maternal smoke exposure and BMI, maternal weight, fat-mass ratio (p < .05).

There are some important alterations in maternal anthropometric parameters during the postpartum period. This study will help further our understanding of the factors influencing changes in maternal body composition after delivery.