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Preconception Predictors of Birth Outcomes: Prospective Findings from the Central Pennsylvania Women’s Health Study

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Abstract

Objective

To examine maternal pre-pregnancy (preconception) predictors of birthweight and fetal growth for singleton live births occurring over a 2-year period in a prospective study.

Methods

Data are from a population-based cohort study of 1,420 women who were interviewed at baseline and 2-years later; self-report data and birth records were obtained for incident live births during the followup period. The analytic sample includes 116 singleton births. Baseline preconception maternal health status and health-related behaviors were examined as predictors of birthweight and fetal growth, controlling for prenatal and sociodemographic variables, using multiple regression analysis.

Results

Preconception BMI (overweight or obese) and vegetable consumption (at least one serving per day) had statistically significant independent and positive effects on birthweight and fetal growth. Maternal weight gain during pregnancy, a prenatal variable, was an additional independent predictor of birthweight and fetal growth. Sociodemographic variables were not significant predictors after controlling for preconception and prenatal maternal characteristics.

Conclusions

Findings confirm that preconception maternal health status and health-related behaviors can affect birthweight and fetal growth independent of prenatal and socioeconomic variables. Implications for preconception care are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This project was funded, in part, under grant number 4100020719 with the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The Department specifically disclaims responsibility for any analyses, interpretations or conclusions. The Penn State Survey Research Center conducted the telephone surveys. The Pennsylvania Department of Health provided the birth records.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, 600 Centerview Drive, A210, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA

    Carol S. Weisman, Cynthia H. Chuang, Fabian T. Camacho & Anne-Marie Dyer

  2. Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA

    Dawn P. Misra

  3. College of Health and Human Development, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Marianne M. Hillemeier & Danielle Symons Downs

Authors
  1. Carol S. Weisman
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  2. Dawn P. Misra
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  3. Marianne M. Hillemeier
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  4. Danielle Symons Downs
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  5. Cynthia H. Chuang
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  6. Fabian T. Camacho
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  7. Anne-Marie Dyer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carol S. Weisman.

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Weisman, C.S., Misra, D.P., Hillemeier, M.M. et al. Preconception Predictors of Birth Outcomes: Prospective Findings from the Central Pennsylvania Women’s Health Study. Matern Child Health J 15, 829–835 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-009-0473-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-009-0473-2

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