International Journal of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Objective: To observe distribution of antenatal patients in underweight, normal, overweight and obese categories according to booking BMI and to examine the association of BMI with obstetric and perinatal outcomes in singleton pregnancies.

Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in the dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital, Gazipur, Bangladesh from January to December 2023. Out of total 882 antenatal registrations, 305 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. The antenatal patients were categorized into four categories of BMI according to WHO classification and pregnancy outcomes were compared.

Results: A total of 305 patients were included in the study. Depending on booking BMI, 225 (73.8%) patients enrolled in the study had normal booking BMI, 51 (16.7%) were underweight, 25(8.1%) were overweight and 4 (1.3%) were obese. The mean age of the study group was 25.3 years. 51% pts were in age group 25-34 years, 47% in 15-24 age group and only 2% in elderly age group. 344 (56.4%) patients registered in this study were primigravida and 266 (43.6%) were multigravida. Postdatism, preterm births, induction of labour, LSCS and prolonged hospital stay were commoner in overweight patients while IUGR, oligohydramnios and BOH were seen more in underweight group. Neonatal resuscitation and neonatal complications were common in both underweight and overweight patients as compared to normal BMI patients.

Conclusion: We conclude that majority of antenatal patients being catered in our hospital have normal BMI. Adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes are associated with extremes of BMI. A pre-pregnancy counseling and general awareness regarding diet and desired weight gain according to booking BMI is essentially required for better pregnancy outcomes.