A study on pre pregnancy body mass index and its effect on maternal and perinatal outcome

Background: Obesity is now a major public health problem. It has detrimental effect to mother and fetus. Maternal malnutrition also has a negative impact. Materials and Methods: 500 women with singleton pregnancy and spontaneous conception, who attended antenatal OPD in our tertiary hospital, were included in this study after informed consent. Those with known pre-pregnancy weight, pre pregnancy BMI was calculated using the formula BMI= weight in kilograms/ height in metre square. They were followed up until delivery and their maternal and perinatal outcomes such as anaemia, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, preterm labour, past dates, intrauterine growth restriction, low birth weight and neonatal intensive care admission were studied. Results: The mean age of the woman in this study was 24.3 ± 2.4 years. Of these, 14% (n= 70) of women were underweight. 43% (n= 215) of women were of normal BMI. 34% (n= 170) of women were overweight. 9% (n= 45) of women were obese. Maternal complications such as anaemia, preterm labour and intrauterine growth restriction were significantly common in underweight woman. Gestational diabetes and gestational hypertension were more in obese woman. Low birth weight babies were more in underweight woman. Conclusion: Pre pregnancy counselling should be given to woman of childbearing age to maintain normal BMI to prevent maternal and neonatal complications.