Association among pre-pregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain and neonatal birth weight: a prospective cohort study in China

• DOI: 10.1186/s12884-020-03323-x
• Publication Date: 2020-11-12T11:03:06Z
• Authors: Yawen Wang; Haihui Ma; Yahui Feng; Yongle Zhan; Sansan Wu; Shuya Cai; Yingjie Shi; Yunli Chen; Liangkun Ma; Yu Jiang
• Keywords: Adult; China; Pregnancy Trimester, Third; Gestational weight gain; Body Mass Index; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Pregnancy; Risk Factors; Birth Weight; Humans; Prospective Studies; Body mass index; 2. Zero hunger; Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy Outcome; Small for gestational age; Gynecology and obstetrics; Gestational Weight Gain; 3. Good health; Diabetes, Gestational; Logistic Models; Large for gestational age; Infant, Small for Gestational Age; RG1-991; Female; Research Article

Abstract Background This study aims to explore the relationships between pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), gestational weight gain (GWG), rate of GWG during the second and third trimesters (GWGrate) and birth weight among Chinese women.

Methods Women were enrolled by 24 hospitals in 15 different provinces in mainland China from July 25th, 2017 to 26 November 2018. Pre-pregnancy BMI, GWG and GWGrate were calculated and divided in to different groups. The multinomial logistic regression model and restrictive cubic spline model were used to explore the relationships.

Results Of the 3585 participants, women who were underweight, had insufficient GWG or GWGrate had 1.853-, 1850- or 1.524-fold higher risks for delivering small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infant compared with women who had normal BMI, sufficient GWG or GWGrate. Women who were overweight/obese, had excessive GWG or GWGrate had 1.996-, 1676- or 1.673-fold higher risks for delivering large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infant. The effects of GWG and GWGrate on birth weight varied by pre-pregnancy BMI statuses. Dose-response analysis demonstrated L-shaped and S-shaped relationships between pre-pregnancy BMI, GWG, GWGrate and neonatal birth weight.

Conclusions Pre-pregnancy BMI, GWG or GWGrate were associated with neonatal birth weight among Chinese women. Both body weight before and during pregnancy should be maintained within the recommendations to prevent abnormal birth weight.