Comparison of five-site skinfold thicknesses in late pregnancy vs early postpartum.

To test the hypothesis that the sum (∑) of five skinfold thicknesses in the immediate postpartum period is significantly less than that obtained in the last month of pregnancy in healthy American women, a standardized approach was used to measure skinfold thicknesses at five sites in 81 healthy, active women. Measures were obtained in the last month of pregnancy and again in the first month postpartum. Prior to pregnancy the subjects ranged in age from 24-39 years and weighed between 45-87 kg.