Maternal and perinatal outcomes in relation to body mass index

Background and objectives: Maternal obesity has become a global threat and has a major public health burden to the mother and her baby. The prevalence of maternal obesity has risen in the past two decade. The aim of the study is to compare maternal and perinatal outcomes of pregnancy in relation to BMI. Methods: It is an observational case con sectional study which was conducted in Sulaimani maternity teaching hospital/Kurdistan region of Iraq, from August 1st 2015-August 1st 2016. A total of 300 women of prime and multigravida with singleton term pregnancy (37- 42weeks), cephalic presentation, age (18-45) year were included. Weight and height were taken from booking visit. Results: Significant difference was found in mean age of the three groups with older women tend to become more obese. There was significant association of obesity with increase. Obesity will increase the risk of gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes and antepartum hemorrhage. Moreover, the rate of caesarean section increasing with higher body mass index. Postpartum hemorrhage showed significant association with obesity. Higher body mass index women are more likely to give birth to macrocosmic babies and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit. Conclusion: Obesity increases the risk of delivery by caesarean section, and is associated with increased incidence of hypertension, gestational diabetes, post-partum hemorrhage and macrocosmic baby. Babies of obese women have a high incidence of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit.