Adolescent Pregnancy Gestational Weight Gain and Maternal and Infant Outcomes

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the advantages and disadvantages of large gestational weight gain among pregnant adolescents. DESIGN: Prospective, longitudinal survey. SETTING: Adolescent-oriented maternity program in Rochester, NY. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred forty-one poor, black, pregnant 12- through 19-year-olds grouped according to rate of gestational weight gain. Slow weight gain was defined as weight gain of less than 0.23 kg per week; average, 0.23 to 0.4 kg per week; and rapid, more than 0.4 kg per week. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS/MAIN RESULTS: Infants of rapid weight-gainers were significantly larger than infants of slower weight-gainers but did not experience fewer perinatal complications than other infants. Infants of slow weight-gainers were significantly smaller than infants of average and rapid weight-gainers and experienced more perinatal complications than other infants. Adolescents who gained weight rapidly retained more weight and, therefore, were more often obese after pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The advantages of large weight gains for pregnant adolescents and their infants are well-documented; this study demonstrates the importance of balancing the long-term potential morbidity of maternal obesity against the benefits of enhanced fetal growth in formulating weight-gain recommendations for pregnant adolescents.