Objective: To determine the effect of inadequate gestational weight gain (GWG) on neonatal birth weight in diabetic obese women.
Study design: Retrospective cohort study of women with an initial body mass index (BMI) ⩾30 kg m(-2) and gestational or type 2 diabetes was conducted. GWG was stratified: inadequate (<11 lbs), adequate (11 to 20 lbs) or excessive (>20 lbs). The primary outcome was birth weight. Secondary outcomes included hypertensive disorders, gestational age at delivery, mode of delivery and Apgar scores.
Result: A total of 211 obese diabetic women were identified. Of those, 37% had inadequate GWG, 25% had adequate GWG and 38% had excessive GWG. Women with inadequate GWG had lower mean birth weights (P=0.048), as well as lower rates of cesarean delivery (P=0.017) and lower rates of pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders (P=0.026) compared with those with adequate and excessive GWG.
Conclusion: Inadequate GWG was associated lower mean birth weights, lower rates of cesarean delivery and lower rates of pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders.