Association of cesarean delivery with increases in maternal body mass index

Seol, Bong Kyung; Ji, Chung Soo; Koh, Suk Bong

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to evaluate whether maternal body mass index measured before pregnancy are associated with an increased risk of cesarean delivery.
METHODS
Maternal weight and height were prospectively collected on 819 women who delivered between 37 weeks and 42 weeks in the College of Medicine, Catholic University of Taegu-Hyosung. Statistical analysis was done using Chi-square tests, prepregnancy maternal weight and height were used to calculate the body mass index, and its contribution to the risk of cesarean delivery was determined. Women with congenital anomaly and pregestational diabetes were exclude from analysis.
RESULTS
The analysis of risk factors for cesarean delivery in the 819 women revealed a decreased risk of cesarean delivery with maternal age < or =20 years and multiparity; increased risk of cesarean delivery was noted with maternal age >30 years. Increase in prepregnancy maternal body mass index and total weight gain were significantly associated with increase in the odds of cesarean delivery.
CONCLUSION
The risk of cesarean delivery is associated with incremental changes in maternal weight and body mass index before pregnancy after adjustment for potential confounding factors. Prepregnancy counseling about optimizing maternal weight and monitoring weight gain during pregnancy to decrease the risk of cesarean delivery are supported by this study.