Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2003 Dec;46(12):2446-2450.

A Study of the Prepregnancy Body Mass Index and Two-month-postpartum Weight Loss in the Uncomplicated Term Pregnancy

• Kim HW
• Kim YS
• Yu JH
• Lee JK
• Kang CS
• Park SC
• Kim YJ
• Park JK
• Kim HS

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To determine the mean two-month-postpartum weight loss, standard deviations and the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles in the uncomplicated term pregnancy and to examine association between prepregnancy body mass index and two-month-postpartum weight loss.
METHODS
We analyzed the two-month-postpartum weight loss data from 175 women who had healthy singleton term pregnancy in Han-il Hospital (Jan 2002-Dec 2002). Data were categorized in three groups according to body mass index.
RESULTS
Mean two-month-postpartum weight loss was 9.46 +/- 3.42 kg. There was no statistically significant difference between prepregancy BMI groups and two-month-postpartum weight loss. The more weight gained during pregnancy, the more that was lost at two-month-postpartum. Parous women retained more of their pregnancy weight. Compared with women who delivered vaginally, women who delivered cesarean experienced greater weight loss at two-month-postpartum.
CONCLUSION
More careful postpartum care according to the two-month-postpartum weight loss table is needed to prevent long-term obesity.

Keyword

Body mass index; Two-month-postpartum weight loss

MeSH Terms

Body Mass Index*
Female
Humans
Obesity
Postnatal Care
Pregnancy*
Weight Gain
Weight Loss*