The risk of small and large for gestational age newborns in women with gestational diabetes according to pre-gestational body mass index and weight gain

Abstract

Aim

To explore the effects of pregestational body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) on maternal and neonatal outcomes of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Methods

We conducted retrospective cohort analyses of outcomes among women with GDM who delivered at Shamir Medical Center, Israel (2017–2018).

Results

We included 673 women with GDM in our analysis, 217 (32.24%) with appropriate GWG (aGWG), 247 (36.7%) with excessive GWG (eGWG), and 209 (31%) with insufficient GWG (iGWG). Cesarean section (CS) was less prevalent among women with iGWG (19.6%), compared with women with eGWG (31.2%) and aGWG (31.1%) (p = .008). Small for gestational weight (SGA) newborns were more prevalent in women with iGWG 9.1%, compared with 2% and 0.9% for women with eGWG and aGWG, respectively (p<.001). Large for gestational age (LGA) newborns were significantly more prevalent in women with eGWG 17.4% compared with 4.8% and 9.7% in patients with iGWG and aGWG women, respectively (p<.001). SGA and LGA newborns were more prevalent in women with iGWG and e-GWG across all pre-gestational BMI groups >18.5 kg/m².

Conclusions

A complex interplay exists between pregestational weight, GWG, and GDM and pregnancy outcomes, specifically SGA and LGA newborns. A strict follow-up considering the pregestational BMI, GWG, blood glucose levels, treatment modality, and fetal abdominal circumference could assist in managing the complex interplay of patients with GDM for better neonatal outcomes.

Keywords:

• Gestational weight gain
• large for gestational age
• small for gestational age
• pregestational BMI
• gestational diabetes

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).