University of California San Francisco
UCSF School of Medicine UCSF Medical Center

Pre-pregnancy and pregnancy-related factors and the risk of excessive or inadequate gestational weight gain.

International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics
2005
https://researcherprofiles.org/profile/1446217
16202415
Brawarsky P, Stotland NE, Jackson RA, Fuentes-Afflick E, Escobar GJ, Rubashkin N, Haas JS
Abstract

OBJECTIVE

Gestational weight gain consistent with the Institute of Medicine's recommendations is associated with better maternal and infant outcomes. The objective was to quantify the effect of pre-pregnancy factors, pregnancy-related health conditions, and modifiable pregnancy factors on the risks of inadequate and excessive gestational weight gain.

METHOD

A longitudinal cohort of pregnant women (N=1100) who completed questions about diet and weight gain during pregnancy and delivered a singleton, full-term infant.

RESULTS

Gestational weight gain was inadequate for 14% and excessive for 53%. Pre-pregnancy factors contributed 74% to excessive gain, substantially more than pregnancy-related health conditions (15%) and modifiable pregnancy factors (11%). Pre-pregnancy factors, pregnancy-related health conditions, and modifiable pregnancy factors contributed fairly equally to the risk of inadequate gain.

CONCLUSION

Interventions to prevent excessive gestational gain may need to start before pregnancy. Women at risk for inadequate gain would also benefit from interventions directed toward modifiable factors during pregnancy.

Journal Issue
Volume 91 of Issue 2