Background: Increased morbidity and mortality have been reported among term infants who were born to overweight and obese mothers. With respect to preterm infants, data are lacking.
Objective: To evaluate perinatal morbidity and mortality among preterm neonates who were born to overweight and obese mothers compared to among preterm neonates who were born to mothers with normal pre-pregnancy BMI.
Design: Retrospective recordings of medical charts of 110 preterm infants born to overweight (68) and obese (42) mothers at gestational age 28-34 weeks, as well as 110 controls matched for gestational age and birth weight. All infants were born at the Sheba Medical Center between 2007 and 2014. Data regarding maternal pre-pregnancy weight and height were recorded, as well as maternal and neonatal complications and feeding methods.
Results: Obese mothers had more pregnancy-induced hypertension (52.4% vs. 21.4%, p=0.006) and Caesarean section deliveries (81% vs. 52.4%, p=0.018). Overweight mothers had more gestational diabetes (20.6% vs. 2.9%, p=0.001).
The study and control groups were similar on all neonatal outcome parameters. No differences between the groups were recorded throughout hospitalization with respect to Apgar score, respiratory distress and support, hypotension, cardiac manifestations, brain pathologies, infection, feeding type and total hospitalization days.
Conclusions: Although the maternal complications are greater among obese and overweight women, preterm infants born to these women are not at increased risk for neonatal complications.
