Forthcoming Issue 1 2024 The impact of maternal weight gain during pregnancy on perinatal outcomes
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Abstract
Background. Weight gain during pregnancy is a physiological event related to fetal tissue growth and maternal metabolic modifications with the addition of adipose tissue reserves. Maternal nutritional status before and during pregnancy has a considerable influence on its course, on fetal development, on the health status of the newborn, and the outcome of the child.
Objectives. To evaluate the impact of maternal weight gain during pregnancy on the occurrence of maternal and neonatal morbidity in the Moroccan population.
Methods. A study was carried out over one year in the maternity ward of the provincial hospital of Benslimane between 1st October 2020 and 1st October 2021, using data collected from a descriptive cross-sectional study. We included mothers delivering singletons from 37 completed weeks up to 42 weeks gestation, while those with diabetes or hypertension were excluded. We divided the mothers into three groups based on weight gain during pregnancy: group I:< 8 kg, group II: 8 -16 kg and group III:> 16 kg. The maternal and neonatal outcomes based on a validated questionnaire were analyzed.
Results. Data from 1408 pregnancies were collected; gestational hypertension, macrosomia, dystocia, and cesarean sections were more common among women whose weight gain was >16 kg. The differences were significant <0.05.
Conclusion. Weight gain during pregnancy has been associated with maternal-fetal complications, hence the need to establish guidelines for prevention and control of high-risk pregnancies during the perinatal period.
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