The influence of pre-pregnancy body mass index and gestational weight gain on pregnancy outcomes in two-child women

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.2.16978/v1

Abstract

Background Pre-pregnancy body mass index and gestational weight gain were related to perinatal outcomes. It was not know the changes of pre-pregnancy body mass index, weight gain during pregnancy and its effect on perinatal outcomes in two-child women.

Methods This was a retrospective study. Data of single term women delivered in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were collected from July 2017 to June 2018. Gestational weight gain criteria of the American Institute of Medical Research and pre-pregnancy body mass index classes were used to evaluate the effects on pregnancy outcomes.

Results A total of 3049 cases were enrolled in the study. Overweight cases was 9.0% and obesity was 2.4%. The weight gain of the two-child women was less than that of primipara(12.4±3.9vs13.3±4.0kg, P<0.001). The proportion of primipara with excessive weight gain was higher compared to two-child women(20.1%versus17.3%, P<0.001). There were 40.0% overweight primipara and 55.2% of two-child women had excessive weight gain. And 40.5% primipara and 54.5% two-child women of obesity had excessive weight gain during pregnancy. Obese primipara increased the risk of pre-eclampsia (aOR2.38, 95%CI 0.76-7.46). And the odds of diabetes mellitus and large for gestational age also increased in this group (aOR3.49, 95%CI 1.46-8.35 and aOR7.65, 95%CI 1.83-31.97, respectively). Two-child women had similar results. Underweight primipara with excessive weight gain increased the pre-eclampsia risk (aOR2.26, 95%CI 0.29-17.46). Normal weight and overweight/obese primipara also had similar results. But in two-child women, only overweight/obesity increased the risk of pre-eclampsia (aOR2.01, 95%CI 0.41-9.98). Underweight two-child women with less weight gain increased the risk of diabetes(aOR2.06, 95%CI 0.43-9.8). Two-child women with overweight/obese increased the odds of LGA even if they had less weight gain(aOR2.58, 95%CI 0.11-63.22). Normal weight primipara and two-child women with overweight and obese with excessive weight gain had similar results. On the other way, underweight primipara with less weight gain increased the risk of SGA(aOR1.74, 95%CI 0.81-3.76).

Conclusions Gestational weight gain of two-child women was less than primipara. Overweight/obese women with excessive weight gain of two-child women increased the risk of adverse outcomes.

Background

Obesity is one of the most important health problems nowadays. The global incidence of overweight and obesity among adult women was 40.0% and 15.0%, respectively[1]. The incidence of overweight and obesity in China was 19.1% in single-birth pregnant women[2]. A retrospective study showed that overweight women before pregnancy was 9.0%, 2.2% of obesity and 14.0% of underweight[3]. Another research showed that the rate of overweight/obese was 12.3%[4]. However, these studies did not identify the incidence of different body mass index classes in primipara and multipara women.

Body mass index before pregnancy were associated with pregnancy outcomes. Overweight/obese increased the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes including pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM), large for gestation age (LGA), stillbirth. On the other hand, underweight increased the risk of placental abruption, small-for-gestational age(SGA)[3–5], and low birth weight(LBW)[3].

Unsuitable Weight gain during pregnancy were also related to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Studies have shown that excessive gestational weight gain(GWG) during pregnancy increased the risk of preterm birth, pregnancy related hypertensive disorder, cesarean section[2]. Cesarean section risk increased 13.0% when GWG raised every 5 kg[6]. Research from Asvanarunat including 3683 cases had showed that 36.5% of pregnant women had excessive gestational weight gain, and the risk of cesarean section, LGA, macrosomia increased[7]. By contrast, insufficient weight gain increased the risk of SGA and LBW[3]. Therefore, it is very important to control suitable weight gain during pregnancy. According the suggestion from America Institute of Medicine[8], weight gain of nulliparous women and multipara women were not distinguish. It was unclear whether similar criterion of weight gain during pregnancy also exist in two-child women.

Obesity increased as the times of pregnancies increased[9]. Pre-pregnancy obesity were also associated with age[10]. With the implementation of two-child policy, two-child pregnant women with older, overweight and obese were increasing. Advanced maternal age increased the risk of preterm birth[11], cesarean section, pre-eclampsia[12], gestational diabetes mellitus[13]. However, there were few studies on the characteristics of pre-pregnancy BMI, GWG of two-child pregnant women, and the effect of BMI before pregnancy and weight gain on perinatal outcomes of the second-child pregnant women after the opening of the two-child policy. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the changes of pre-pregnancy BMI, gestational weight gain and its influence on pregnancy outcomes in the second-child pregnant women.

Methods

Data were collected in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen university from July 2017 to June 2018. Single term women over 18 years old who delivered in this hospital were included in this study. Exclusion criteria including: premature birth; twin or multiple pregnancies; third or more times deliveries; incomplete basic data; chronic hypertension, type 1 or type 2 diabetes, severe medical complications such as cardiac failure or uncontrolled asthma, active systemic lupus erythematosus, and uncontrolled nephrotic syndrome; etc. This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun yat-sen University ((2017)296).

Demographic data were collected including age, marital status, smoking, husband smoking, socioeconomic status, height, weight, body mass index before pregnancy, times of delivered, gestational weight gain, number of abortion, mode of delivery, gestational age, etc. Pregnancy complications data were collected from Electronic Medical Record(EMR) including pregnancy related hypertensive disease, gestational diabetes mellitus, postpartum hemorrhage, premature rupture of membranes(PROM), placental abruption, shoulder dystocia, fetal growth restriction(FGR), etc. Neonatal outcomes including weight, Apgar score, neonatal asphyxia, fetal distress, neonatal pathological jaundice, neonatal hypoglycemia, small for gestation age, low birth weight, large for gestation age, macrosomia were also collected.

According to the America Institute of Medicine guidelines[8], for low -, normal-weight, overweight, and obese pregnant women, GWG ranges from 12.5 to 18kg, 11.5 to 16kg, 7 to 11.5kg, and 5 to 9kg, respectively. Weight gain during pregnancy were classified into three categories: less GWG, normal GWG and excessive GWG.

The statistical analysis were carried out by SPSS19.0(SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL). Continuous variables were presented as mean and standard deviation(SD) which compared by student t test. Categorical variables were calculated as percentage and frequencies which compared by chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test. Multiple logistics regression analysis was used to evaluate the effect of pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG on pregnancy outcomes. A P value less than 0.05 was statistically significant.

Results

A total of 3,180 cases of single term women delivered from July 2017 to June 2018 in this hospital. There were excluded 20 cases of chronic hypertension, 8 cases of type 1 or type 2 diabetes, 76 cases of third or more times delivery, 27 cases of incomplete basic data. A total of 3,049 cases were included in this study. Maternal age was 32.5±4.8years(18-51years), and average weight gain during pregnancy was 12.8±3.9kg (-4-32kg). The gestational age was 39.2±1.0 weeks (37-41+6weeks).  There were 1023 cases (33.6%) had less weight gain during pregnancy and 566 cases (18.6%) had excessive weight gain. There were 1380 cases (45.3%) of primipara and 1669 cases (54.7%) of two-child women. Gestational weight gain of primipara was higher compared to the second-child women (13.3±4.0vs12.4±3.9kg, P < 0.001). The proportion of less weight gain of primipara was lower than that of two-child women(30.0%vs36.5%, P < 0.001), and the proportion of excessive weight gain of primipara was higher than that of two-child women (20.1%versus17.3%, P < 0.001). Birthweight between the two groups were no difference(3201.4±379.3vs3224.4±373.6g, P = 0.093). The demographic data of the two groups were shown in table 1.

Table 1. Demographic data of the two groups

Items

Primipara

Two-child women

T value

P value

 

N=1380

N=1669

 

 

Age(year)

30.0±4.1

34.6±4.2

-30.593

0.001

Pre-pregnancy Wt(kg)

53.1±7.9

54.9±7.9

-6.168

0.001

Pre-pregnancy BMI(kg/m2)

20.7±2.8

21.5±2.8

-8.512

0.001

GWG(kg)

13.3±4.0

12.4±3.9

6.515

0.001

Gestational age(wks)

39.4±1.0

39.0±0.9

12.664

0.001

Birth weight(g)

3201.4±379.3

3224.4±373.6

-1.681

0.093

Age

 

 

X2 value

 

35years

1197(86.7%)

880(47.9%)

503.387

0.001

35years

183(13.3%)

869(52.1%)

 

 

Mode of pregnancy

 

 

 

 

Natural

1200(87.0%)

1598(95.7%)

77.2499

0.001

In vitro

180(13.0%)

71(4.3%)

 

 

Marital status

 

 

 

 

Married

1366(99.0%)

1660(99.5%)

2.279

0.131

Unmarried

14(1.0%)

9(0.5%)

 

 

Socioeconomic

Status

 

 

 

 

≥10,000

1290(93.5%)

1580(94.7%)

1.933

0.164

10,000

90(6.5%)

89(5.3%)

 

 

Pre-pregnancy BMI (kg/m2)

 

 

 

 

18.5

296(21.4%)

197(11.8%)

57.254

0.001

18.5-24.9

995(71.4%)

1297(77.7%)

 

 

25-27.9

70(5.1%)

131(7.8%)

 

 

≥28.0

29(2.1%)

44(2.6%)

 

 

Smoking in pregnancy

8(0.6%)

10(0.6%)

0.005

0.944

Husband smoking

198(14.3%)

275(16.5%)

2.613

0.106

GWG

 

 

 

 

less

414(30.0%)

609(36.5%)

 

 

Normal

688(49.9%)

772(46.3%)

14.921

0.001

Excessive

278(20.1%)

288(17.3%)

 

 

BMI: body mass index, GWG: gestational weight gain

 

The perinatal outcomes of the two groups were showed in table 2. The incidence of GDM of the two-child women group was higher than that of the primipara group (19.8%versus14.5%, P < 0.001). The incidence of FGR of the two-child women group was lower than that of primipara (1.5%versus2.5%, P = 0.04). There was no  difference between the two groups in the incidence of shoulder dystocia, postpartum hemorrhage, hydramnios and pre-eclampsia(P > 0.05). The perinatal outcomes of the two groups were shown in table 2.

Table 2. Prenatal outcomes between the two groups

Items

Primipara           

Two-child women

X2 value

P value

 

N=1380

N=1669

 

 

Way of delivery

 

 

 

 

Spontaneous labor

65547.5%

75445.2%

106.806

0.001           

Cesarean section

57942.0%

87852.6%

 

 

Forceps

14610.6%

372.2%

 

 

pregnancy related hypertensive disease

132796.2%

162397.2%

2.828

0.093

GDM

20014.5%

33019.8%

14.662

0.001

PPH

1178.5%

1589.5%

0.899

0.343

Polyhydramnios

413.0%

563.4%

0.362

0.547

Oligohydramnion

151.1%

201.2%

0.083

0.774

FGR

352.5%

251.5%

4.222

0.040

Fetal distress

33023.9%

1267.5%

159.032

0.001

Shoulder dystocia

130.9%

211.3%

0.685

0.408

Macrosomia

332.4%

462.8%

0.398

0.528

LGA

503.6%

855.1%

3.856

0.050

LBW

362.6%

342.0%

1.100

0.294

SGA

15711.4%

1237.4%

14.544

0.001

Neonatal asphyxia   

423.0%

211.3%

11.897

0.001

Newborn transferred to paediatrics

27720.1%

20812.5%

32.703

0.001

Pathological jaundice of newborn

15211.0%

1227.3%

12.677

0.001

Neonatal hypoglycemia

594.3%

1136.8%

8.835

0.003

GDM: gestational diabetes mellitus, PPH: Postpartum hemorrhage, FGR: fetal growth restriction, LGA: large for gestation age, LBW: low birth weight, SGA: small for gestation age

 

The influence of pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG on pregnancy outcomes were showed in table 3. The proportion of normal weight primipara with excessive GWG was higher compared to the second-child group (19.8%versus15.2%, P < 0.001). The incidence of less or excessive weight gain during pregnancy between the two groups in the underweight, overweight and obese classes were no difference. Gestational weight gain of the first-child women with normal weight was higher than that of two-child women (13.4±3.9versus12.5±3.8kg, P < 0.001), but there was no difference between the two groups in neonatal birth weight (3228.4±371.5versus3229.4±366.3g, P = 0.953). The incidence of pre-eclampsia, anemia, polyhydramnios between the two groups in all BMI classes were no difference(P > 0.05).

Table 3. The influence of pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG on pregnancy outcomes

 

Underweight

 

Normal weight

 

Overweight

 

obesity

 

 

primipara

Two-child women

P value

primipara

Two-child women

P value

primipara

Two-child women

P value

primipara

Two-child women

P value

N

296

197

 

985

1297

 

70

131

 

29

44

 

GWG

14.0±3.6

13.5±3.2

0.104

13.4±3.9

12.5±3.8

0.001

11.3±3.9

11.0±4.3

0.578

10.2±5.7

10.7±5.2

0.711

GWKs

39.4±1.1

38.9±1.0

0.001

39.4±1.0

39.0±0.9

0.001

39.4±1.0

38.9±0.9

0.001

39.2±0.9

38.9±0.9

0.17

BW

3066.9±366.6

3099.5±364.4

0.333

3228.4±371.5

3229.4±366.3

0.953

3324.4±413.5

3307.4±394.3

0.775

3356.6±342.8

3388.6±417.8

0.732

GWG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less

105(35.5%)

74(37.6%)

 

297(30.2%)

513(39.6%)

 

8(11.4%)

19(14.5%)

 

4(13.8%)

3(6.8%)

 

Normal

152(51.4%)

109(55.3%)

0.103

493(50.1%)

587(45.3%)

0.001

34(48.6%)

59(45.0%)

0.800

9(31.0%)

17(38.6%)

0.557

Excess

39(13.2%)

14(7.1%)

 

195(19.8%)

197(15.2%)

 

28(40.0%)

53(40.5%)

 

16(55.2%)

24(54.5%)

 

PE

8(2.7%)

1(0.5%)

0.093

36(3.7%)

30(2.3%)

0.058

5(7.1%)

10(7.6%)

0.900

4(13.8%)

5(11.4%)

0.757

GDM

21(7.1%)

13(6.6%)

0.832

149(15.1%)

256(19.7%)

0.004

21(30.0%)

42(32.1%)

0.764

9(31.0%)

19(43.2%)

0.296

PPH

20(6.8%)

13(6.6%)

0.945

86(8.7%)

125(9.6%)

0.459

10(14.3%)

17(13.0%)

0.795

1(3.4%)

3(6.8%)

0.478

Polyhydramnios

6(2.0%)

3(1.5%)

0.682

27(2.7%)

41(3.2%)

0.559

4(5.7%)

9(6.9%)

0.751

4(13.8%)

3(6.8%)

0.276

Anemia

111(37.5%)

89(45.2%)

0.089

382(38.8%)

475(36.6%)

0.292

22(31.4%)

51(38.9%)

0.292

9(31.0%)

12(27.3%)

0.728

FGR

15(5.1%)

4(2.0%)

0.086

18(1.8%)

19(1.5%)

0.497

2(2.9%)

2(1.5%)

0.434

0

0

0

Fetal Distress

69(23.3%)

14(7.1%)

0.001

241(24.5%)

100(7.7%)

0.001

17(24.3%)

10(7.6%)

0.001

3(10.3%)

2(4.5%)

0.308

LBW

19(6.4%)

5(2.5%)

0.050

16(1.6%)

27(2.1%)

0.426

1(1.4%)

2(1.5%)

0.722

0

0

0

SGA

58(19.6%)

29(14.7%)

0.164

89(9.0%)

88(6.8%)

0.046

7(10.0%)

5(3.8%)

0.076

3(10.3%)

1(2.3%)

0.170

LGA

3(1.0%)

5(2.5%)

0.276

38(3.9%)

64(4.9%)

0.218

6(8.6%)

11(8.4%)

0.966

3(10.3%)

5(11.4%)

0.604

Macrosomia

1(0.3%)

3(1.5%)

0.307

29(2.9%)

33(2.5%)

0.561

3(4.3%)

6(4.6%)

0.615

0(0.0%)

4(9.1%)

0.125

Asphyxia 

6(2.0%)

3(1.5%)

1.000

30(3.0%)

16(1.2%)

0.002

4(5.7%)

1(0.8%)

0.051

2(6.9%)

1(2.3%)

0.346

Jaundice

30(10.1%)

11(5.6%)

0.073

110(11.2%)

93(7.2%)

0.001

8(11.4%)

14(10.7%)

0.873

4(13.8%)

4(9.1%)

0.396

Hypoglycemia

5(1.7%)

9(4.6%)

0.059

43(4.6%)

84(6.5%)

0.051

4(5.7%)

14(10.7%)

0.239

5(17.2%)

6(13.6%)

0.459

GWG, gestational weight gain, GWK, gestational weeks, PE, pre-eclampsia, GDM: gestational diabetes mellitus, PPH: Postpartum hemorrhage, FGR: fetal growth restriction, LBW: low birth weight, SGA: small for gestation age, LGA: large for gestation age

 

The results of multiple logistic regression analysis in pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG on perinatal outcomes are shown in table 4. The two-child women with overweight and obese increased the odds of pre-eclampsia (aOR3.14, 95%CI 1.42-6.92, aOR5.02, 95%CI 1.71-14.74, respectively), and the primipara obese group had similar results. Excessive weight gain increased the odds for pre-eclampsia in the two groups. The overweight and obese primipara increased the risk of LGA (aOR3.10,95% CI 0.81-11.88, aOR7.65, 95%CI 1.83-31.97), while the odds of LGA for the two-child overweight and obese groups were not increased.

Table 4. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence interval for prenatal outcomes of pre-pregnancy body mass index and gestational weight gain

 

Pre-pregnancy BMI

GWG

 

underweight

normal weight

overweight

obese

less

normal

excess

PE

 

reference

 

 

 

reference

 

Primipara

0.88(0.40-1.94)

 

1.31(0.48-3.52)

2.38(0.76-7.46)

0.30(0.12-0.75)*

 

2.17(1.15-4.08)*

Two-child women

0.24(0.03-1.76)

 

3.14(1.42-6.92)*

5.02(1.71-14.74)*

1.24(0.61-2.55)

 

1.68(0.75-3.76)

GDM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Primipara

0.42(0.25-0.68)**

 

2.89(1.62-5.15)**

3.49(1.46-8.35)*

1.94(1.37-2.73)**

 

0.64(0.40-1.02)

Two-child women

0.30(0.17-0.54)**

 

2.73(1.78-4.18)**

5.40(2.76-10.56)**

2.13(1.62-2.80)**

 

0.66(0.43-0.99)*

PPH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Primipara

0.77(0.45-1.30)

 

1.53(0.71-3.26)

0.42(0.05-3.23)

0.61(0.37-0.99)*

 

0.79(0.48-1.32)

Two-child women

0.67(0.37-1.23)

 

1.53(0.87-2.72)

0.79(0.23-2.70)

0.94(0.65-1.35)

 

0.63(0.37-1.06)

Shoulder dystocia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Primipara

0.39(0.05-3.07)

 

0.93(0.20-4.41)

-

0.69(0.14-3.41)

 

1.46(0.40-5.34)

Two-child women

0.50(0.06-3.96)

 

0.47(0.04-5.04)

-

1.32(0.51-3.45)

 

0.37(0.08-1.79)

FGR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Primipara

1.07(0.44-2.58)

 

1.88(0.31-11.58)

-

0.97(0.39-2.39)

 

0.57(0.16-2.00)

Two-child women

0.96(0.25-3.73)

 

1.66(0.16-17.19)

-

0.38(0.11-1.25)

 

2.07(0.46-9.31)

LGA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Primipara

0.67(0.17-2.66)

 

3.10(0.81-11.88)

7.65(1.83-31.97)

0.79(0.27-2.31)

 

1.71(0.68-4.27)

Two-child women

0.62(0.17-2.31)

 

1.17(0.46-3.00)

0.78(0.14-4.25)

0.82(0.39-1.74)

 

2.24(1.07-4.69)

Macrosomia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Primipara

0.19(0.02-1.82)

 

0.41(0.07-2.40)

-

0.76(0.20-2.87)

 

1.58(0.53-4.73)

Two-child women

1.26(0.23-6.79)

 

1.03(0.30-3.56)

3.18(0.48-21.17)

0.57(0.19-1.73)

 

1.45(0.55-3.80)

SGA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Primipara

1.81(1.18-2.78)*

 

1.45(0.57-3.72)

-

1.69(1.10-2.60)*

 

1.04(0.60-1.83)

Two-child women

2.87(1.70-4.84)**

 

0.47(0.15-1.49)

-

1.61(1.00-2.58)*

 

1.28(0.65-2.51)

LBW

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Primipara

2.26(0.95-5.40)

 

0.47(0.04-5.04)

-

1.33(0.51-3.47)

 

2.33(0.72-7.49)

Two-child women

0.51(0.15-1.74)

 

0.84(0.08-8.78)

-

0.96(0.35-2.61)

 

0.38(0.07-1.95)

PE: pre-eclampsia, GDM: gestational diabetes mellitus, PPH: postpartum hemorrhage, FGR: fetal growth restriction, LGA: large for gestation age, SGA: small for gestation age, LBW: low birth weight. *: 0.05, **: 0.001, -: no case

 

In adjusted multinomial analyse with normal weight pregnant women, underweight primipara with excessive gestational weight gain increased the odds of pre-eclampsia(aOR2.26, 95%CI 0.29-17.46). While the two-child women with insufficient weight gain increased the odds of GDM for all BMI classes. The effect of different BMI and GWG on pregnancy outcomes were shown in table 5.

Table 5. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence interval for pregnancy outcome in multinomial logistic regression for pre-pregnancy body mass index and gestational weight gain

 

PE

 

GDM

 

PPH

 

FGR

 

 

Primipara

Two-child women

Primipara

Two-child women

Primipara

Two-child women

Primipara

Two-child women

Underweight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

less

0.40(0.06-2.85)

-

1.89(0.64-5.60)

2.06(0.43-9.8)

1.89(0.55-6.55)

2.39(0.61-9.28)

0.78(0.18-3.44)

-

normal

reference

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

excess

2.26(0.29-17.46)

-

1.86(0.49-7.14)

-

1.34(0.18-11.16)

1.89(0.18-20.14)

0.70(0.07-7.41)

-

Normal weight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

less

0.23(0.07-0.72)*

1.13(0.50-2.54)

2.30(1.55-3.43)**

2.32(1.69-3.17)**

0.61(0.33-1.14)

0.91(0.60-1.38)

1.12(0.33-3.75)

0.45(0.11-1.83)

normal

reference

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

excess

2.06(0.95-4.46)

1.37(0.45-4.00)

0.57(0.31-1.06)

0.72(0.43-1.21)

1.09(0.58-2.04)

0.54(0.27-1.07)

0.46(0.08-2.80)

1.29(0.20-8.43)

Overweight/obese

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

less

-

0.82(0.09-7.15)

0.57(0.12-2.80)

2.54(0.81-7.98)

-

0.24(0.03-2.40)

-

-

normal

reference

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

excess

2.86(0.38-21.48)

2.01(0.41-9.98)

0.29(0.09-0.92)*

0.64(0.28-1.45)

0.05(0.00-0.62)*

0.75(0.23-2.43)

-

-

PE: pre-eclampsia, GDM: gestational diabetes mellitus, PPH: postpartum hemorrhage, FGR: fetal growth restriction, *: 0.05, **: 0.001, -: no case or too few case

Normal weight primipara women with excessive GWG increased the odds of LGA (aOR2.40, 95%CI 0.79-7.31), and normal weight and overweight or obese two-child woman with excessive weight gain during pregnancy had similar results. For underweight nulliparous women with less GWG increased the odds of LBW(aOR2.66, 95%CI 0.59-12.04), when they had excessive weight gain also increased the odds of LBW(aOR4.29, 95%CI 0.38-48.20). Underweight primipara women with less weight gain during pregnancy increased the odds of SGA(aOR1.74,95%CI 0.81-3.76). Even if overweight or obese two-child woman who had insufficient weight gain during pregnancy, the odds of LGA also increased (aOR2.58, 95%CI 0.11-63.22). The influence of pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG on neonatal outcomes were shown in table 6.

Table 6. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence interval for neonatal outcomes in multinomial logistic regression for pre-gestational body mass index and gestational weight gain

 

LGA

 

Macrosomia

 

LBW

 

SGA

 

 

Primipara

Two-child women

Primipara

Two-child women

Primipara

Two-child women

Primipara

Two-child women

Underweight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

less

1.57(0.09-26.25)

-

-

-

2.66(0.59-12.04)

0.40(0.03-5.04)

1.74(0.81-3.76)

1.60(0.57-4.50)

normal

Reference

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

excess

-

-

-

-

4.29(0.38-48.20)

-

0.36(0.07-1.78)

-

Normal weight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

less

0.99(0.29-3.43)

0.90(0.40-1.99)

0.72(1.71-3.05)

0.42(0.12-1.49)

0.79(0.19-3.21)

1.18(0.35-3.99)

1.79(1.01-3.18)*

1.55(0.88-2.72)

normal

Reference

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

excess

2.40(0.79-7.31)

1.96(0.80-4.81)

1.62(0.47-5.66)

1.57(0.50-4.99)

1.55(0.33-7.34)

0.57(0.08-3.90)

1.23(0.62-2.44)

1.18(0.54-2.60)

Overweight/obese

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

less

-

2.58(0.11-63.22)

-

-

-

-

0.75(0.04-14.70)

-

normal

Reference

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

excess

0.75(0.06-9.08)

7.61(0.81-71.79)

0.18(0.01-6.33)

-

-

-

1.25(0.16-9.95)

-

LGA: large for gestation age, LBW: low birth weight, SGA: small for gestation age, -: no cases or too few cases, *: 0.05, -: no case or too few case

Discussion

Pregnancy period itself is an ideal time to maintain and start a healthy lifestyle[14]. However, the traditional concept of Chinese thought that women should add large amount of nutrients, and the more weight gained during pregnancy, the better it will be for the pregnant woman and the fetus. Therefore, pregnant women usually consume a large amount of nutrients during pregnancy period, leading to excessive weight gain. With the opening of the two-child policy in China, elderly and high-risk women increased, and weight gain also increased, which increased the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Research from Hung and colleagues showed that the incidence of overweight women before pregnancy was 8.9% and 1.8% in obese[15]. Results from study of Hora Soltani and colleagues showed that 21.7% women were overweight and obese 5.3%, obese increased the risk of LGA(OR3.46)[16]. Study from Haugen et al. showed that obesity rate was 8.1% in primipara and 9.7% in multipara, and the incidence of LGA was higher both in primipara and multipara with obesity (15.0% and 27.1%, respectively)[17]. The results of this study showed that overweight rate was 9.0%, and 2.4% of obesity. The overweight rate of the two-child women was 7.8%, which was higher compared to primipara. The incidence of overweight and obese women of this study were lower than those literature reported.

Overweight or obese increased the risk of postpartum hemorrhage, LGA, macrosomia[18–20]. A study reported 23.9% of pregnancy complications were closely related to overweight and obesity[21]. A meta-analysis also had similar conclusions that overweight or obese increased the risk of LGA and macrosomia[22]. Research from Ferraro et al. showed that pre-pregnancy overweight and obese women increased the risk of LGA even if they had normal weight gain during pregnancy (OR 1.99 and 2.64, respectively)[23]. This study had similar results. The results of this study showed that even if overweight or obese two-child woman who had insufficient weight gain during pregnancy, the odds of LGA also increased (aOR2.58, 95%CI 0.11–63.22). Pre-pregnancy obese increased the risk of pre-eclampsia both in primipara and the two-child pregnant women. Overweight or obese women, especially for the two-child pregnant women with higher rate of overweight or obesity, were closely associated with adverse outcomes. At the same time, underweight was associated with adverse neonatal outcomes. Results from the research of Haugen et al. showed that the incidence of SGA was higher (16.5% and 9.4%) both in underweight primipara and multipara pregnant women[17]. However, the study did not analyze the odds of SGA for underweight primipara and multipara. A study including 2521 cases showed that the risk of SGA increased in underweight women(OR1.9)[24]. The results of this study found that the proportion of SGA decreased with pre-pregnancy BMI increasing both in nulliparous and two-child pregnant women. While the incidence of SGA of normal weight primipara was higher compared to the second-child women (9.0%versus6.8%, P = 0.046). And the odds of SGA both in nulliparous and two-child pregnant women with underweight were increased (aOR 1.81 and 2.87, respectively), which were similar with literature.

Gestational weight gain were also associated with pregnancy outcomes. Study from lan-pidhainy et al. showed that the mean weight gain of primipara was higher than that of multipara (15.9 vs 13.5kg, P < 0.001), weight gain decreased with pre-pregnancy BMI increasing[25]. A retrospective study reviewed 11203 singleton cases showed that 57.2% women had excessive weight gain with LGA rate of 8.7% and the incidence of SGA was 9.6%[26]. The results of this study showed that gestational weight gain of the two-child women was less than primipara (12.4versus13.3kg, P < 0.001), which was similar with literature. Over 30.0% of underweight and normal weight primipara and the second-child women was less weight gain, while over 40.0% of overweight and obese nulliparous and two-child women had excessive weight gain. Excessive weight gain increased the odds of LGA both in primipara and two-child women, specially for overweight and obese two-child women. The results of study from Ferraro and colleagues showed that more than 55% of women gained too much during pregnancy, overweight and obese pregnant women with excessive weight gain raised the risk of LGA (OR 3.59)[23]. while less gestational weight gain increased the risk of SGA. Research from Johnson et al. showed that more than 70% of women gained weight too much during pregnancy, and the risk of pregnancy related hypertensive disorder was increased for all BMI classes[27]. Nucci and colleague showed that the risk of macrosomia(OR2.56) increased in women with excessive weight gain, but it did not analyze the difference between primipara and multipara[28]. Results of this study showed that although normal weight nulliparous had more weight gain than that of normal weight two-child women(13.4vs12.5 kg, P < 0.001), neonatal birth weight of the two groups were no difference (3228.4 versus3229.4 g, P > 0.05), however, the incidence of SGA was higher than that of the second-child women (9.0%vs6.8%, P = 0.046). Although the weight gain of other BMI classes between nulliparous and two-child women were no difference, it decreased with BMI increasing. The odds of LGA increased in the two-child women with excessive gestational weight gain(aOR2.24). However, for nulliparous women with excessive weight gain, even if they were underweight before pregnancy, the risk of pre-eclampsia was increased (aOR2.26). While the risk of pre-eclampsia was increased in overweight/obesity two-child women(aOR2.01). Therefore, the weight gain during pregnancy in difference BMI may have difference range, and it should be also had difference rang between nulliparou and multipara women.

A research have shown that less weight gain during pregnancy increases the risk of GDM[29]. This contradicts the previous understanding that excessive weight gain during pregnancy was associated with GDM. The results of this study also had similar results. Although the weight gain of the first-child women with normal weight was more than that of the second-child women, the rate of GDM was lower (15.1%versus19.7%, P = 0.004). And underweight primipara increased the odds of GDM with less weight gain during pregnancy(aOR1.89). But less weight gain raised the risk of GDM in the second-child women with underweight(aOR2.06). This may be due to these studies were retrospective research. In most countries, pregnant women were diagnosed GDM by oral glucose tolerance test at 24–28 gestation weeks. After the diagnosis of GDM, pregnant women had diet control and exercise, these would control the gestational weight gain strictly. However, the risk of SGA was not increased in the primipara and the two-child women with overweight/obese who had less weight gain. But the risk of pre-eclampsia and LGA was increased both in overweight/obese nulliparous and two-child women even they had less gestational weight gain. And the risk of LGA significantly increased in the overweight/obese two-child women with excessive weight gain. While the odds of LGA raise only in the normal weight primipara with excessive gestational weight gain. These results suggested that overweight and obese two-child women should control their weight gain more strictly to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes. And the pre-pregnancy body mass index maybe more closely related to adverse outcomes than weight gain during pregnancy. It would be better to decrease their body mass index reasonably before they were pregnancy.

Conclusion

In conclusion, prenatal body mass index and gestational weight gain is related to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Weight gain during pregnancy should be reasonably controlled according to prenatal body mass index to improve pregnancy outcomes. Multicenter randomized studies were need to ensure the range of gestational weight gain during pregnancy in both primipara and multipara women to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Abbreviations

LGA: large for gestational age

SGA: small for gestational age

OR: odds rate

CI: confidence interval

GDM: gestational diabetes mellitus

BMI: body mass index

GWG: gestational weight gain

EMR: Electronic Medical Record

LBW: low birth weight

PROM: premature rupture of membranes

SD: standard deviation

FGR: fetal growth restriction

PPH: Postpartum hemorrhage

Declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun yat-sen University ((2017)296).

Consent for publication

Not applicable

Availability of data and material

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article and its supplementary information files.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Funding

No funding.

Authors’ contributions

Hanqing Chen and Suhua Zou contributed to the conception of this article, the analysis and interpretation of data, and drafting the article. Suhua Zou collected the data. Jianbo Yang contributed to the analysis and interpretation of clinical data. Zhuyu Li and Jian Cai helped to analyze the data. Zilian Wang raised the idea of this article and contributed to the study design and manuscript revision. All authors have read and approved the manuscript.

Acknowledgements

Not applicable.

References

1Organization W H. EN Fact sheet 311: obesity[J]. 2015.

2Liu L, Hong Z, Zhang L. Associations of prepregnancy body mass index and gestational weight gain with pregnancy outcomes in nulliparous women delivering single live babies. Sci Rep. 2015 Aug 5;5:12863. DOI: 10.1038/srep12863

3Hung TH, Hsieh TT. Pregestational body mass index, gestational weight gain, and risks for adverse pregnancy outcomes among Taiwanese women: A retrospective cohort study. Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol. 2016 Aug;55(4):575–81. DOI: 10.1016/j.tjog.2016.06.016

4Zhao R, Xu L, Wu ML, Huang SH, Cao XJ. Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain influence birth weight. Women Birth. 2018 Feb;31(1):e20-e25. DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2017.06.003

5Akahoshi E, Arima K, Miura K, Nishimura T, Abe Y, Yamamoto N, et al. Association of maternal pre-pregnancy weight, weight gain during pregnancy, and smoking with small-for-gestational-age infants in Japan. Early Hum Dev. 2016 Jan;92:33–6. DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2015.10.022

6Gawade P, Markenson G, Bsat F, Healy A, Pekow P, Plevyak M. Association of gestational weight gain with cesarean delivery rate after labor induction. J Reprod Med. 2011 Mar-Apr;56(3–4):95–102.

7Asvanarunat E. Outcomes of gestational weight gain outside the Institute of Medicine Guidelines. J Med Assoc Thai. 2014 Nov;97(11):1119–25.

8Institute of Medicine (US) and National Research Council (US) Committee to Reexamine IOM. Weight Gain During Pregnancy: Reexamining the Guidelines. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2009.

9Huayanay-Espinoza CA, Quispe R, Poterico JA, Carrillo-Larco RM, Bazo-Alvarez JC, Miranda JJ. Parity and Overweight/Obesity in Peruvian Women. Prev Chronic Dis. 2017 Oct 19;14:E102. DOI: 10.5888/pcd14.160282

107Onubi OJ, Marais D, Aucott L, Okonofua F, Poobalan AS. Maternal obesity in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Public Health (Oxf). 2016 Sep;38(3):e218-e231. DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdv138

11Frederiksen LE, Ernst A, Brix N, Braskhøj Lauridsen LL, Roos L, et al. Risk of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes at Advanced Maternal Age. Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Mar;131(3):457–463. DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000002504

12Ogawa K, Urayama KY, Tanigaki S, Sago H, Sato S, Saito S, et al. Association between very advanced maternal age and adverse pregnancy outcomes: a cross sectional Japanese study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2017 Oct 10;17(1):349. DOI: 10.1186/s12884–017–1540–0

13Islam MM, Bakheit CS. Advanced Maternal Age and Risks for Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: A Population-Based Study in Oman. Health Care Women Int. 2015;36(10):1081–103. DOI: 10.1080/07399332.2014.990560

14Committee on Practice Bulletins—Obstetrics. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 190: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Feb;131(2):e49-e64. DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000002501

15Hung TH, Chen SF, Hsu JJ, Hsieh TT. Gestational weight gain and risks for adverse perinatal outcomes: A retrospective cohort study based on the 2009 Institute of Medicine guidelines. Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol. 2015 Aug;54(4):421–5. DOI: 10.1016/j.tjog.2015.06.010

16Soltani H, Lipoeto NI, Fair FJ, Kilner K, Yusrawati Y. Pre-pregnancy body mass index and gestational weight gain and their effects on pregnancy and birth outcomes: a cohort study in West Sumatra, Indonesia. BMC Womens Health. 2017 Nov 9;17(1):102. DOI: 10.1186/s12905–017–0455–2

17Haugen M, Brantsæter AL, Winkvist A, Lissner L, Alexander J, Oftedal B, et al. Associations of pre-pregnancy body mass index and gestational weight gain with pregnancy outcome and postpartum weight retention: a prospective observational cohort study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2014 Jun 11;14:201. DOI: 10.1186/1471–2393–14–201

18Yeşilçiçek Çalik K, Korkmaz Yildiz N, Erkaya R. Effects of gestational weight gain and body mass index on obstetric outcome. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2018 Sep;25(6):1085–1089. DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2018.02.014

19Marchi J, Berg M, Dencker A, Olander EK, Begley C. Risks associated with obesity in pregnancy, for the mother and baby: a systematic review of reviews. Obes Rev. 2015 Aug;16(8):621–38. doi: 10.1111/obr.12288. DOI: 10.1111/obr.12288

20Goldstein RF, Abell SK, Ranasinha S, Misso M, Boyle JA, Black MH, et al. Association of Gestational Weight Gain With Maternal and Infant Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA. 2017 Jun 6;317(21):2207–2225. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2017.3635

21Santos S, Voerman E, Amiano P, Barros H, Beilin LJ, Bergström A, et al. Impact of maternal body mass index and gestational weight gain on pregnancy complications: an individual participant data meta-analysis of European, North American, and Australian cohorts. BJOG. 2019 Feb 20. DOI: 10.1111/1471–0528.15661

22Yu Z, Han S, Zhu J, Sun X, Ji C, Guo X. Pre-pregnancy body mass index in relation to infant birth weight and offspring overweight/obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2013 Apr 6;8(4):e61627. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061627

23Ferraro ZM, Barrowman N, Prud’homme D, Walker M, Wen SW, Rodger M, et al. Excessive gestational weight gain predicts large for gestational age neonates independent of maternal body mass index. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2012 May;25(5):538–42. DOI: 10.3109/14767058.2011.638953

24Ricci E, Parazzini F, Chiaffarino F, Cipriani S, Polverino G. Pre-pregnancy body mass index, maternal weight gain during pregnancy and risk of small-for-gestational age birth: results from a case-control study in Italy. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2010 Jun;23(6):501–5. DOI: 10.3109/14767050903216025

25Lan-Pidhainy X, Nohr EA, Rasmussen KM. Comparison of gestational weight gain-related pregnancy outcomes in American primiparous and multiparous women. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013 May;97(5):1100–6. DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.112.052258

26Simas TA, Waring ME, Liao X, Garrison A, Sullivan GM, Howard AE, et al. Prepregnancy weight, gestational weight gain, and risk of growth affected neonates. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2012 Apr;21(4):410–7. DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2011.2810

27Johnson J, Clifton RG, Roberts JM, Myatt L, Hauth JC, Spong CY, et al. Pregnancy outcomes with weight gain above or below the 2009 Institute of Medicine guidelines. Obstet Gynecol. 2013 May;121(5):969–75. DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e31828aea03

28Li C, Liu Y, Zhang W. Joint and Independent Associations of Gestational Weight Gain and Pre-Pregnancy Body Mass Index with Outcomes of Pregnancy in Chinese Women: A Retrospective Cohort Study. PLoS One. 2015 Aug 27;10(8):e0136850. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136850

29Nucci D, Chiavarini M, Duca E, Pieroni L, Salmasi L, Minelli L. Pre-pregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain and adverse birth outcomes: some evidence from Italy. Ann Ig. 2018 Mar-Apr;30(2):140–152. DOI: 10.7416/ai.2018.2205