title: The influence of maternal body composition on birth weight.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the maternal body composition parameters that independently influence birth weight.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal prospective observational study in a large university teaching hospital. One hundred and eighty-four non-diabetic caucasian women with a singleton pregnancy were studied. In early pregnancy maternal weight and height were measured digitally in a standardised way and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated. At 28 and 37 weeks' gestation maternal body composition was assessed using segmental multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. At delivery the baby was weighed and the clinical details were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the women studied, 29.2% were overweight and 34.8% were obese. Birth weight did not correlate with maternal weight or BMI in early pregnancy. Birth weight correlated with gestational weight gain (GWG) before the third trimester (r=0.163, p=0.027), but not with GWG in the third trimester. Birth weight correlated with maternal fat-free mass, and not fat mass at 28 and 37 weeks gestation. Birth weight did not correlate with increases in maternal fat and fat-free masses between 28 and 37 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contrary to previous reports, we found that early pregnancy maternal BMI in a non-diabetic population does not influence birth weight. Interestingly, it was the GWG before the third trimester and not the GWG in the third trimester that influenced birth weight. Our findings have implications for the design of future intervention studies aimed at optimising gestational weight gain and birth weight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal fat-free mass and gestational weight gain both influence birth weight.
authors.affiliation: UCD Centre for Human Reproduction, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. nadine.farah@ucd.ie
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Farah
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Donnelly
authors.forename: Mairead M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kennelly
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Turner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007494:Ireland; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult