Obesity Association with the Mode of Delivery

Abstract

Back ground: Obesity is an epidemic not only in developed countries but also in the developing world. Furthermore, obesity is becoming an increasingly common problem, both in general population and in women of the reproductive age. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that obese pregnant women are at greater risk of a number of maternal and fetal complications of pregnancy.
Objective: To study the influence of BMI on the mood of delivery, fetal body weight and post labour complications.
Patients and methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at Daquk and Kirkuk general Hospital in Kirkuk governorate. The study was carried out over 60 days extended from 15th of May to 15th of July2015. The study enrolled a total of 81 nulliparous women in labour, with single tone fetus with vertex presentation. The demographic and clinical characteristics were gathered using a questionnaire and obstetrical examination performed for all included patients.
Results: There were no women of this study participant with BMI of less than 20, while the predominant BMI in our study cohort was the 25 – 29.9. A 27.2% of the total rate of cesarean section (30.9%) is with BMI of ≥25. The obesity rate was more in urban. Post date (>42 wk) with a highest rate in women with BMI of ≥ 25. In addition, 69.1% (56/81) were delivered with vaginal delivery and 30.9% (25/81) were delivered by CS. Obesity do influence development of complications during pregnancy with risk of more than 8 times. The total percentage of CS (52%) with foetal complication which are the indication for cesarean section. The preterm labor was about 5 times in women with BMI of ≥25; the same pattern was demonstrated for post date. OR not confirmed presence of association between normal BMI and vaginal delivery. The highest post vaginal delivery complication rate was in women with BMI of ≥25, episiotomy was the most frequent one. Cesarean section, underweight and overweight fetus, preterm term labour and post date were more predominant in women with BMI of ≥25. More than halve of post date delivery was in women with BMI <25.
Conclusion: obese and overweight women were with higher rate of cesarean section, preterm labour, postdate, and post vaginal delivery complications, however, these findings need to be confirmed in a large scale study