Gestational weight gain according to bmi-based recommendations and its association with birth weight: A retrospective cohort study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35335/midwifery.v14i4.2491Keywords:
Birth Weight Gestational Age, Gestational Weight Gain, Low Birth Weight, Pre-Pregnancy Body Mass IndexAbstract
Gestational weight gain (GWG) is a modifiable factor for perinatal outcomes, but its association with birth weight (BW) remains inconsistent. This retrospective cohort study examined GWG, its adequacy against body mass index (BMI)-specific recommendations adjusted for gestational age, and its association with BW and low birth weight (LBW) among 273 women who delivered in three community health centers in Metro City, Indonesia, between January and September 2026. GWG was calculated from pre-pregnancy, second-trimester, and last third-trimester weights (mean 33 weeks). Mean GWG up to the last visit was 8.47 kg (SD 4.08); 41.5%, 38.6%, and 19.9% of women gained inadequately, adequately, and excessively. LBW prevalence was 7.7%. GWG showed no detectable linear correlation with BW (r = 0.014; 95% CI −0.105 to 0.133) and was not associated with LBW (adjusted OR 0.99 per kg; 95% CI 0.87–1.13). Adequacy differed by pre-pregnancy BMI category (p < 0.001), partly reflecting BMI-specific thresholds, but not by age or gravidity. Lower LBW odds in primigravidae (adjusted OR 0.19; 95% CI 0.04–0.86; two events) is exploratory. Small effects cannot be excluded; gestational age at delivery was unavailable and LBW cases were few.
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