title: Effects of maternal undernutrition and heavy physical work during pregnancy on birth weight.
abstract: The study attempted to determine if heavy physical labour by mothers during pregnancy affected fetal growth when such mothers had calorie intakes which were below 70 per cent of WHO/FAO recommended standards. Full term infants of such mothers had a mean birth weight of 3060 +/- 355 (SD) g compared to 3270 +/- 368 SD g for the newborn of less physically active mothers on similar low calorie diets (P less than 0.01). The mothers who engaged in heavy labour had a mean pregnancy weight gain of 3.3 +/- 2.4 (SD) kg, independent of the birth weight of their offspring, compared with 5.9 +/- 3.3 kg for the less active mothers (P less than 0.001). The mothers' weight in early pregnancy had an insignificant influence on birth weights when mothers were on low calorie intakes.
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D001835:Body Weight; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009748:Nutrition Disorders; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins