Abstract
Objective. We examined the relationship between maternal low birth weight and preterm delivery risk. Methods. Information concerning maternal birth weight was collected during in-person interviews. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Preterm delivery cases were studied in aggregate, in subgroups (spontaneous preterm labor, preterm premature rupture of membranes, medically induced preterm delivery, moderate preterm delivery [gestational age at delivery 34–36 weeks], and early preterm delivery [gestational age at delivery <34 weeks]). Results. After adjusting for confounders, women weighing <2,500 g at birth had a 1.54-fold increased risk of preterm delivery versus women weighing =2,500 g (95% CI 0.97–2.44). Maternal low birth weight was associated with a 2-fold increased risk of spontaneous preterm delivery (95% CI 1.03–3.89), but weakly associated with preterm premature rupture of membranes (OR = 1.44; 95% CI 0.67–3.09) and medically induced preterm delivery (OR = 1.10; 95% CI 0.43–2.82). Maternal low birth weight was more strongly associated with early preterm delivery (OR = 1.94) than with moderate preterm delivery (OR = 1.46). Women weighing <2,500 g at birth and who became obese (pre-pregnancy body mass index, =30 kg/m2) before pregnancy had a 3.65-fold increased risk of preterm delivery (95% CI 1.33–10.02) versus women weighing =2,500 g at birth and who were not obese prior to pregnancy (<30 kg/m2). Conclusions. Results confirm earlier findings linking maternal low birth weight with future risk of preterm delivery.
| Abbreviations | ||
| OR | = | odds ratio |
| 95%CI | = | 95% confidence interval |
| PTD | = | preterm delivery |
| LMP | = | last menstrual period |
| BMI | = | body mass index |
| Abbreviations | ||
| OR | = | odds ratio |
| 95%CI | = | 95% confidence interval |
| PTD | = | preterm delivery |
| LMP | = | last menstrual period |
| BMI | = | body mass index |