title: Effect of maternal body mass index on pregnancy outcome and newborn weight.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Maternal obesity has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, pre- and post-term delivery, induction of labor, macrosomia, increased rate of caesarean section, and post-partum hemorrhage. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of maternal Body Mass Index (BMI) on pregnancy outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  1000 pregnant women were enrolled in the study. In order to explore the relationship between maternal first trimester Body Mass Index and pregnancy outcomes, participants were categorized into five groups based on their first trimester Body Mass Index. The data were analyzed using Pearson Chi-square tests in SPSS 18. Differences were considered significant if p < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women with an above-normal Body Mass Index had a higher incidence of pre-eclampsia, induction of labor, caesarean section, pre-term labor, and macrosomia than women with a normal Body Mass Index (controls). There was no significant difference in the incidence of post-term delivery between the control group and other groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased BMI increases the incidence of induction of labor, caesarean section, pre-term labor and macrosomia. The BMI of women in the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. bahmanh2002@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Shahla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yazdani
authors.forename: Yousofreza
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yosofniyapasha
authors.forename: Bahman Hassan
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Nasab
authors.forename: Mohsen Haghshenas
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Mojaveri
authors.forename: Zinatossadat
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bouzari