Excessive weight gain in primigravidas with low-risk pregnancy: selected obstetric consequences

To determine whether a group of normal weight women with a low-risk pregnancy who increased their prepregnant weight by more than 25% experienced a longer second stage of labor or a higher proportion of operative deliveries than a group of normal weight women who increased their prepregnant weight by 25% or less.

Comparative, descriptive, retrospective chart review.

A 480-bed tertiary care medical center.

One hundred four primigravidas who had normal weight for height at conception and who experienced low-risk pregnancy.

Length of second stage labor and mode of delivery.

A statistically significant difference was found in the mean length of second stage labor between the two groups, t(94) = -2.05, p = 0.02. A higher proportion of operative deliveries (vacuum, forceps, or cesarean section) occurred in the group that increased their prepregnant weight by more than 25%, chi 2(3, N = 104) = 15.87, p = 0.001.

The amount of weight gained during pregnancy influences progress and intervention during the second stage of labor.