title: Associations of the pre-pregnancy body mass index and gestational weight gain with pregnancy outcomes in Taiwanese women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pre-pregnancy weight and gestational weight gain (GWG) are important factors in both maternal and infant outcomes. Little information is available in relation to different levels of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and body weight gain on obstetric outcomes in Taiwan. This study investigated the associations between pregnancy complications with pre-pregnant BMI and GWG, in Taiwanese women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were extracted from a delivery room information bank on all women delivering singleton babies in a medical center. Eight hundred and sixty pregnant women were included. The collected variables included basic information, GWG, and pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. Pregnant women were categorized according to their pre-pregnant BMI and GWG to evaluate the impacts of pre-pregnant BMI and maternal weight gain on the risk of pregnancy complications. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed, and odds ratios were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pre-pregnancy BMI>=24 kg/m2 increased the risks of gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, and preterm labor. Preeclampsia and Cesarean delivery were positively associated with high weight gains (>18 kg), whereas a low birth weight and preterm labor were strongly associated with low weight gains (<10 kg). A higher birth weight was found with a GWG of >14 kg in women who were underweight and normal weight before pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An appropriate maternal BMI (18.5-24 kg/m2) at conception followed by a suitable gestational weight gain (10-14 kg) has substantial impact on the overall health of pregnant women and would lead to better obstetric management for Taiwanese women.
authors.affiliation: School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: I-Hsien
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chih-Ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Fang-Ju
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Chia-Hsun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Sung-Ling
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Yeh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001724:Birth Weight; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult