title: Impact of morbid obesity on the mode of delivery and obstetric outcome in nulliparous singleton pregnancy and the implications for rural maternity services.
abstract: Obesity represents a rapidly emerging epidemic amongst pregnant women. Our study looks at the impact of morbid obesity on pregnant singleton nulliparous women in comparison with normal body mass index women. We conclude that morbid obesity is associated with a significantly higher risk of pre-existing medical conditions, developing antenatal complications, induction of labour, caesarean section and greater birth weight. However, there was no significant difference in caesarean section rates when adjusted for induction of labour. We also found no significant difference in length of hospital stay, postnatal complications and neonatal morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rockhampton Base Hospital, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. clive_green@health.qld.gov.au
authors.forename: Clive
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shaker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007751:Labor, Induced; D008427:Maternal Health Services; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications*; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019035:Rural Health Services; D055815:Young Adult