Antenatal Body Mass Index (BMI) and weight gain in pregnancy: Association with labor induction

Overweight and obesity is a common fining among women in their reproductive age. It is a serious risk for both maternal and fetal future health. Half of patients entering their pregnancy in the US have a BMI greater than 25.0 and therefore qualify as overweight or obese. Moreover, there is a tendency towards increased weight gain during pregnancy. Studies have shown that gestational overweight is associated with complications in pregnancy and birthing as well as short-term and long-term impacts on neonatal outcome in childhood and adulthood [1,2].

Here, Gröning analyzed the data of 2037 women visiting our tertiary perinatal center in the scope of her docoral thesis. Antenatal BMI, gestational weight gain, as well as perinatal outcome was assessed. Weight gain was evaluated based on the IOM guidelines.

25% of the population was overweight to obese with a BMI of more than 25.0. The mean weight gain was 13.947kg. In the group of the overweight and obese pregnant women more than half the patients gained more weight than the appropriate amount (65%, 58%). These women were at higher risk of labor induction (34.5% and 37.9% vs. 29.7% labor induction in total, p=0.001).

Overall, 1/4 of the analyzed population is already overweight or obese when entering pregnancy. Gestational weight gain exceeding the IOM recommendations was found in 44.1% of cases. We found an association of prepregnancy overweight and obesity with the necessity of labor induction. This highlights the importance of prenatal BMI documentation (e.g. in the German “Mutterpass”) and possibly interventions.

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Publication History

Article published online:
07 October 2020