No relation between maternal weight gain and stillbirth

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Perinatal Medicine
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Background:

• Investigating the association between maternal weight and stillbirth in singleton pregnancies.
• Focus on the third trimester of pregnancy, starting from 24 weeks gestation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the relationship between maternal weight gain and stillbirth.
• To determine if maternal body weight at 24 weeks gestation is a predictor of stillbirth.

Main Methods:

• Case-control study analyzing 210 fetal deaths over seven years in southern Sweden.
• Matching controls based on parity and delivery location.
• Regression analysis to compare body weight gain between cases and controls.

Main Results:

• Mothers experiencing stillbirth had significantly lower mean body weight at 24 weeks gestation (63.5 kg vs. 67.3 kg).
• No significant difference in mean weight gain from 24 weeks gestation to delivery was observed between stillbirth cases and controls.

Conclusions:

• Maternal weight gain during the third trimester is not associated with stillbirth risk.
• Lower pre-pregnancy or early third-trimester maternal weight may be linked to stillbirth.