Contribution of gestational weight gain to fetal birth weight among pregnant women in a public tertiary hospital, Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The ideal gestational weight gain (GWG) to ensure a favorable neonatal birth weight remains arguable but the desired birth weight for optimal early life adaptation and subsequent seamless childhood navigation is no longer in doubt.
Objective: We sought to document the role of GWG on birth weight and to examine the influence of some materno-fetal variables.
Method: The case records of patients who initiated antenatal care in the first trimester and delivered in University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City from January 2014 to December 2017 were retrospectively studied. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, clinical management and outcome were extracted and analyzed.
Results: The frequency of early booking was 14.5%. Mean GWG was 7.7±5.8kg and the mean birth weight was 3.1±0.4kg. GWG did not significantly influence birth weight. Social class was significantly associated with birth weight (P<0.001). Weight gain less than 5kg with OR of 1.52 (CI=1.02 to 2.04; P=0.042) and lower social class with OR of 1.81 (CI=1.23 to 2.57; P=0.02) predicted birth weight lower than 2.5kg. Maternal age, parity and fetal sex did not significantly impact on birth weight.
Conclusion: Overall GWG in our study was poor but this did not significantly influence birth weight. GWG in the third trimester impacts on fetal growth, and low birth weight can be predicted by GWG lower than 5kg. A focus on improved GWG in the prenatal period to optimize birth weight appears necessary. We recommend nutritional counselling and support especially in the second half of gestation.