[Obesity and primiparity: Risky delivery?]

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the risk of materno-foetal complications in obese primiparous women (Body Mass Index (BMI)≥30) MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in our tertiary referral labour ward from 1st January 2009 to 31st December 2010, including primiparous women delivering living cephalic singleton pregnancies after 37 weeks of amenorrhea. Two groups were compared: obese patients (BMI≥30) and non-obese (BMI<30). Obstetrical and neonatal data were collected.

Results: Among 1636 primiparous women, 132 (8%) had a BMI≥30. Induction of labor, prolonged pregnancy and post-partum hemorrhage were significatively more frequent in obese group (P<0.001). Those patients have an increased risk of cesarean section (P<0.001). Mean birth weight of newborns from obese mothers is significatively higher (3493g vs 3265g, P<0.001), as is the frequency of macrosomia (16.7% vs 5.2%, P<0.001).

Conclusion: Obesity is associated with obstetrical complications in primiparous obese women, who are to be considered risky patients at their arrival in the labour ward, and specific obstetrical management must be planned to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Keywords: Accouchement; Complications obstétricales; Delivery; Obesity; Obstetrical complications; Obésité; Primiparity; Primiparité.