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Pregnancy, obesity, gestational weight gain, and parity as predictors of peripartum complications

  • Materno-fetal Medicine
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

To determine if the best predictor of pregnancy complications is pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) alone or in combination with other factors.

Methods

BMI and peripartum outcomes of singleton pregnancies were evaluated. Recursive partitioning and logistic regression modeling was used.

Results

Of the 4,286 cohorts, 26% were obese (BMI >30 kg/m2) and, compared to cohorts with normal weight, at risk for wound infections (P < 0.001), and shoulder dystocia (P < 0.001). High-risk patients (15%; BMI >32.5, parity, pregnancy weight gain of 28 lb by 28 weeks) were at increased risk for wound infection (P < 0.001), endometritis (P < 0.001), shoulder dystocia (P = 0.001) and 5 min Apgar score <4 (P < 0.041) and at lower risk for pre-term delivery (P = 0.007).

Conclusions

Since BMI, parity, and weight gain until 28 weeks together provide better prediction of peripartum complications than BMI alone, these characteristics can be used to triage and refer patients.

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Conflict of interest

We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Arkansas for the Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham St. Slot # 518, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA

    Everett F. Magann

  2. School of Women’s and Infants’ Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

    Dorota A. Doherty

  3. Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA

    Suneet P. Chauhan

  4. Naval Medical Center—Portsmouth, Portsmouth, VA, USA

    Jennifer M. Klimpel

  5. University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA

    Shannon D. Huff & John C. Morrison

Authors
  1. Everett F. Magann
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  2. Dorota A. Doherty
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  3. Suneet P. Chauhan
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  4. Jennifer M. Klimpel
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  5. Shannon D. Huff
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  6. John C. Morrison
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Everett F. Magann.

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Magann, E.F., Doherty, D.A., Chauhan, S.P. et al. Pregnancy, obesity, gestational weight gain, and parity as predictors of peripartum complications. Arch Gynecol Obstet 284, 827–836 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-010-1754-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-010-1754-0

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