![[ Visit Client Website ]](images/banner.png)
BACKGROUND: Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measurement based on a person’s weight and height, categorizing people into one of four BMI groups. A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered normal weight, whereas a BMI over 30 is obese. Pregnant women who were obese prior to pregnancy may suffer poor health before, during, and after pregnancy. Maternal health also can affect infant health; infants born to mothers with health problems may be born with health problems of their own. The purpose of this study was to look at associations between pre-pregnancy maternal obesity, breastfeeding duration, and infant outcomes.
METHODS: Florida Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) Phase VI data were analyzed using SAS v. 9.3. These data were weighted to be representative of all new mothers in Florida. This study aggregated the Florida PRAMS data from 2009 to 2011. There was a 59% response rate with 4,281 respondents completing the survey. Health information was self-reported by respondents.
RESULTS: Based on PRAMS data, from 2009 to 2011, 19.9% of new mothers in Florida were considered obese. Compared to normal weight mothers, obese mothers had increased odds of gestational diabetes (OR 3.1, CI 2.3-4.2), high blood pressure during pregnancy (OR 4.4, CI 2.8-6.9), severe nausea during pregnancy (OR 1.7, CI 1.4-2.1), early labor pains (OR 1.4, CI 1.1-1.8), and feeling hopeless or slowed down after pregnancy (OR 1.9, CI 1.2-3.0). The prevalence rate of cesarean section delivery among obese mothers (51.9%, CI 47.6-56.1) was 45.4% higher than among normal weight mothers (35.7%, CI 33.2-38.1). Compared to mothers with a normal weight, mothers who were obese had higher odds of delivering a baby with very low birth weight (OR 1.8, CI 1.3-2.4), a baby large for gestational age (OR 2.5, CI 1.8-3.5), a premature baby (OR 1.5, CI 1.2-1.9), or a baby who had to go to the neonatal intensive care unit (OR 1.5, CI 1.2-1.9). Mothers who were obese had a lower prevalence of ever breastfeeding (OR 0.7, CI 0.5-0.9).
CONCLUSIONS: Compared to normal weight mothers, obese mothers had higher odds of adverse health conditions during pregnancy and negative infant health outcomes, as well as lower odds of breastfeeding. The findings in this abstract will contribute to preconception planning programs and weight-loss programs for women contemplating pregnancy in Florida. It will also be used to better understand who is at increased risk for negative infant health outcomes.