Abstract
Background
Infants with an inappropriate birth weight for their gestational age are more likely to develop complications during pregnancy and postpartum, and have increased long-term health risks.
Objectives
To determine the prevalence and risk factors for infants with inappropriate birth weight for their gestational age.
Methods
We enrolled 820 women with uncomplicated, singleton pregnancies who gave birth to a live born infant at term. Prepregnancy baseline and obstetric information were extracted from medical records, including body mass index (BMI), gestational weight gain, and infant birth weight. Prevalence of small-for-gestational age (SGA) and large-for-gestational age (LGA) infants was determined. We compared variables between groups to identify associated factors.
Results
Prevalence of SGA was 2.6% and LGA was 10.5%. Prepregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain were significantly higher in the LGA than in the SGA group (P = 0.041 and < 0.001, respectively). The birth weight and gestational weight gain, but not the prepregnancy BMI, were significantly different (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis determined that inadequate gestational weight gain significantly increased the risk of SGA (adjusted OR 3.20, 95%CI 1.06 to 9.64, P = 0.039), and significantly reduced the risk of LGA (adjusted OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.91, P = 0.028). Excessive gestational weight gain significantly increased the risk of LGA (adjusted OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.21 to 3.30, P = 0.006). There was no significant association with prepregnancy BMI.
Conclusions
Controlling gestational weight gain may improve maternal and neonatal outcomes.