Prepregnancy body mass index and the length of gestation at term.

Am J Obstet Gynecol

Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Published: October 2007

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and length of gestation at term.

Study Design: This was a retrospective study of 9336 births at the University of California, San Francisco, at > or = 37 weeks' gestation. We performed univariate and multivariable analyses of the associations between prepregnancy BMI and length of gestation (> or = 40, > or = 41, and > or = 42 weeks' gestation).

Results: Overweight women were more likely to deliver at > or = 40, > or = 41, and > or = 42 weeks' gestation than were women who were underweight or normal weight. In multivariable analyses, higher prepregnancy BMI was associated with higher risk of progressing past 40 weeks. Obese women had 69% higher adjusted odds of reaching 42 weeks' gestation, compared with women of normal prepregnancy BMI (adjusted odds ratio, 1.69; 95% confidence interval, 1.23-2.31).

Conclusion: Higher BMI is associated with prolonged gestation at term. Achieving optimal BMI before conception may reduce the risk of postterm pregnancy and its associated complications.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2007.05.048DOI Listing

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