Background: The outcome of pregnancy of mothers and the fetal outcome are influenced by maternal body mass index.

Objective: To study association of maternal BMI in early pregnancy with perinatal outcome.

Method: A hospital based prospective study was carried out in Christian Hospital Berhampur, Odisha. Total 210pregnant women who were in the first trimester of pregnancy were interviewed using a pre designed pretested questionnaire. Data on socio-demographic characteristics were collected and BMIs in the 1st trimester were calculated. The cases were followed-up till their delivery to note the perinatal outcomes. Data analysis was done by using appropriate statistical methods.

Result: Out of total, 23.8% were underweight, 10.5 % each were overweight and obese. The mean birth weight of newborns was 2.38kg in underweight mothers and 3.84kg for obese mothers. The mode of delivery was by LSCS in 63.6 % of obese women and 59.1% of overweight women. A significant association was observed between maternal BMI and mode of delivery (P=0.021), also between BMI and perinatal outcomes like admission into NICU &birth weight of baby (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Maternal BMI was associated with adverse maternal and pregnancy outcomes. Mothers with a BMI below normal had LBW babies and when BMI was above normal it was associated with delivery by LSCS and macrosmia in newborns. Thus it necessitates the importance of nutritional counselling in pre pregnancy period.

Keywords: Maternal, BMI, Obese, Perinatal Outcome, NICU.

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Dr Nivedita Karmee

Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine,

MKCG Medical College, Berhampur, 760004

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Phone no- 91-9437198473