title: Maternal and perinatal health outcomes by body mass index category.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of increasing maternal body mass index (BMI) during pregnancy on maternal and infant health outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The South Australian Pregnancy Outcome Unit's population database, 2008 was accessed to determine pregnancy outcomes according to maternal BMI. Women with a normal BMI (18.5-24.9 kg/m(2) ) formed a reference population, to which women in other BMI categories were compared utilising risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overweight and obese women had an increased risk of gestational diabetes, hypertension and iatrogenic preterm birth. Labour was more likely to be induced, and the risk of caesarean birth was increased. Infants were more likely to require resuscitation at birth and to have birth weight in excess of 4 kg. The risk increased with increasing maternal BMI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a well-documented increased risk of maternal and perinatal health complications for women who are overweight or obese during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: The University of Adelaide, Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Epidemiology Branch, SA Health, South Australia, Australia. jodie.dodd@adelaide.edu.au
authors.forename: Jodie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dodd
authors.forename: Rosalie M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Grivell
authors.forename: Anh-Minh
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Annabelle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000209:etiology*; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D007229:Infant Welfare; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013021:South Australia