title: Fit for Birth - the effect of weight changes in obese pregnant women on maternal and neonatal outcomes: a pilot prospective cohort study.
abstract: The 'Fit for Birth' study aimed to explore patterns of gestational weight gain and their relationship with pregnancy outcomes. The study had three aims: 1. To explore the feasibility of conducting a large cohort study in this setting. 2. To describe patterns of weight gain through pregnancy in obese women. 3. To explore associations of weight change during pregnancy with outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnant women with a BMI ≥ 30 kg m(-2) at first antenatal clinic visit.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a single centre pilot observational study based at the Liverpool Women's Hospital, a large UK maternity hospital.Women were recruited into the study at their antenatal booking visit and had weights measured throughout pregnancy. Patterns of weight gain were described and related to maternal and neonatal outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome was a composite measure consisting of any of 12 adverse maternal and foetal outcomes. This was compared by categorized pregnancy weight gain (<0 kg, 0-5 kg, 5.1-9 kg and >9 kg).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight hundred and twenty four women consented to participation between June 2009 and June 2010. Weight data were collected on 756 women. Only 385 women had weights measured in all three study assessment periods (6-20 weeks, 20 + 1 to 32 weeks and >32 weeks gestation) while 427 women had weights measured in period 3. Individual patterns of weight gain varied widely and missing data were common and non-random. There was a significant association between increased weight gain during pregnancy and poor maternal and foetal outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weight gain in obese women during pregnancy can be highly variable. Our study supports an association between increased weight gain in pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obesity and Endocrinology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Narayanan
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Weeks
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Unit in Reproductive Health, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quenby
authors.affiliation: Fit for Birth, School of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Liverpool Women's Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rycroft
authors.affiliation: Lancaster Medical School, Clinical Research Hub, Lancaster University, Lancaster, Lancashire, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.affiliation: Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Longworth
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Education, Health & Community, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Charnley
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Education, Health & Community, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abayomi
authors.affiliation: Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Topping
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: Department of Obesity and Endocrinology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: J P H
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Wilding
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D037841:Pregnant People; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006113:United Kingdom; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Gestational weight gain; maternal outcome; neonatal outcome; obesity