Introduction: Nutrition during pregnancy plays an important role for an optimum outcome of pregnancy. Women may be malnourished even before they become pregnant and this may further adversely affect the pregnancy. Maternal undernutrition can lead to poor intrauterine growth and low weight​ of the baby at birth. Moreover, the leading causes for maternal deaths like hemorrhage and infection are related directly or indirectly to nutrition.

Aim of the Study: To study the impact of existing food habits on pregnancy outcome in a south Indian population.   

Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Voluntary Health services, Multi-specialty Hospital and Research Institute, Adyar, Chennai. The study was carried out between January 2013- July2014. From the antenatal clinic, 350 women who satisfied the following inclusion and exclusion criteria were admitted to the study.

Results: The majority of pregnant women belonged to the age group of 21-25 yrs (47%) followed by the 26-30 yrs age group (40%).The number of teenage pregnancies was 30 (8%) whereas 5% of pregnant women belong the age group of 31-35 yrs.83% of the study population belonged to the low socioeconomic  class.

Majority of the babies (66%) had the birth weight in the range of 2.5-2.9 kgs. 29 % of babies had birth weight in the range of 3-3.5 kgs.

There was a significant association (p value < 0.05) between the socioeconomic status of the mother, parity and her calorie intake. The present study found a statistically significant association between the maternal nutritional status, the birth weight of the baby and the need for NICU admission (p value < 0.05). 

Conclusion: Maternal food habits have an impact on the pregnancy outcome. Maternal food habits are influenced by many factors like socioeconomic status, parity, social food taboos and pregnancy itself. The pregnancy outcomes like birth weight, need for NICU admission and postnatal complications are influenced by maternal nutritional status.

Keywords: Nutrition,Food habits, birth weight.

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Surg lt* Devdatt laxman Pitale

Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Indian Naval Hospital Asvini, Colaba-400005

Ex Senior resident Obstetrics and Gynaecology,

The Voluntary Health Services (VHS) Multispeciality Hospital and Research Institute, Chennai

*Surgeon lieutenant