The relationship between maternal body mass index and infant anthropometric parameters

Introduction. Excessive or inefficient body weight in pregnant women is a serious obstetric problem, associated with an increased risk of complications for the mother and child. Excessive birth weight of an infant carries the risk of emergency obstetric conditions, in turn, low birth weight of an infant may pose a risk of developmental disorders.

Objectives. To evaluate the impact of nutritional condition of mothers on anthropometric parameters value of newborns.

Material and methods. The study included 247 women and their newborns. The diagnostic survey method was applied. An original questionnaire was used and anthropometric measurements of women and newborns were taken.

Results and Conclusions. Statistically significant differences were found in birth weight of newborns depending on the nutritional condition of women prior to pregnancy. The children of mothers with insufficient bodyweight had a significantly lower birth weight (p = 0.0079) than the children of mothers with normal weight, excessive weight and obesity. It was also demonstrated that the children of mothers with insufficient body weight had significantly lower (p < 0.0001) head circumference than the children of mothers with normal weight, excessive weight and obesity. The research revealed a correlation between maternal body mass index and neonatal anthropometric parameters. Mothers with insufficient weight gave birth to children with a significantly lower birth weight than the children of mothers with normal weight, excessive weight and obesity. Mothers with excessive weight and obesity gave birth to infants with significantly higher birth weight than mothers with normal or insufficient weight before pregnancy.

Nursing Topics 2015; 23 (4): 490–495