The impact of gestational weight gain on pregnancy outcomes among Saudi women delivered at maternal and child hospital, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, 2022

Background: The pregnant women who gain the excessive weight outside the recommendation of Institute of Medicine (IOM) during pregnancy lead to adverse pregnancy outcome. Women with excessive gestational weight gain have high risk of gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, cesarean section, macrosomia, preterm delivery and birth weight. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of excessive gestational weight gain and to identify its association with adverse pregnancy outcomes among Saudi women delivered at Maternity and Child hospital (MCH) , Al Ahsa Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional chart review study. All pregnant women who were admitted in the postnatal ward in MCH after delivery were the study population. A sample size of 250 was calculated using online software (OpenEpi).Convenience sampling was used, as we want to reach all the women who are admitted to the ward after delivery. A special data sheet was prepared based on similar previous study and modified to meet our study objectives. The data were computerized, processed and analyzed using SPSS version 24.Descriptive statistics were presented using counts, proportions (%), mean ±, standard deviation whatever appropriate. The association of the weight gain and pregnancy outcome was tested by chi square test. A P -value cut off point of 0.05 or less was used to determine statistical significance. Results: The data of 250 women could be collected during the study period. The mean age of the participants was 28.34 years ± Std. Dev. 9.24 years. As far as the BMI is concerned more than thirty seven percent (37.6%) of the participants were of normal weight while 22% and 33.3% were overweight and obese respectively. Only 7.2% of the participants were underweight. The mean Wight gain by the underweight pregnant women was 11.29Kg while those with normal weight were 10.5Kg. The pregnant women who were overweight gained a mean weight of 12.85kg and those who were obese gained 13.47kg.. Recurrent UTI was significantly higher among the normal weight pregnant women with weight gain of 10.53Kg than those of under weight with weight gain of11.59 kg , overweight with weight gain of 12.85 kg and obese with weight gain of13.47kg(40.54% vs.2.7% vs.26.13% vs,30.62%, P=0.023).Vaginal infection(P=0.023), vaginal infection plus UTI (0.0.023) were significantly more associated with excess weight gain during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes(P=0.013), preeclamsia (P=0.013)was significantly more prevalent among the obese pregnant women However the pregnancy induced hypertension was more prevalent among normal weight with weight gain of10.53Kg (P-0.013).Normal delivery was significantly more common among the normal weight with weight gain of10.53Kg than (P-0.013) , delivery by induction (P=0.013) and the delivery by caeserian section was significantly more among the obese pregnant women with weight gain of 13.47kg The obese pregnant women with weight gain of 13.47kg were significantly associated with the preterm delivery (P=0.034).