METERNAL ANTHROPOMETRY DETEMINES PREGNANCY OUTCOME

NAME ADDRESS EMAIL ID OF THE CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:
Dr. Rupa L. Balihalimath,
KC Rain Road, Gadag.
E-mail: rupalb485@gmail.com

ABSTRACT: Placenta is a transient vital organ of pregnancy and one of the most sensitive determinants of birth weight and pregnancy complications. Placental morphology and pregnancy outcome are influenced by maternal genetic, socio-economic and psychological make-up, and nutritional status in childhood and thereafter. Variation in these factors will lead to adverse pregnancy outcome. Hence, the study assessed the influence of maternal anthropometry: weight and, height on placental morphometry: weight, volume and surface area, and birth weight. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The study was conducted on 391 placentae of singleton newborn from a teaching hospital of North Karnataka, India. Data was collected from August 2012 to January 2013 by using standard operating procedures in a pre-designed and pre-tested proforma. Maternal anthropometry cumulative distribution is described with figures. Analysis of variance is used to study the differences in means of placental morphometry in different groups of maternal anthropometry. RESULTS: The Means and standard deviations of placental morphometry; weight, volume, surface area and thickness were 440±100gm, 386±101ml, 230±50cm sq, and 2.1±0.4cm respectively. Mean and standard deviations of birth weight and were 2700±500gm. Maternal pre-pregnancy weight followed moderately normal distribution with mean 48.4 and SD 8.9 kg. Mean birth weight (p<0.001) and placental morphometry [weight (p<0.001), volume (p<0.001) and surface area (p<0.05)] increased consistently with the increasing maternal pre-pregnancy weight. Gestational weight gain was significantly related with birth weight (p<0.01) however, placental morphometry did not exhibit any significant difference with weight gain. Maternal height followed moderately normal distribution with mean maternal height 153.9 cm with SD of 6.7. Means of birth weight (p<0.05) increased consistently with the increasing maternal height, however, placental morphometry did not show any significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: The study infers that maternal pre-pregnancy and during pregnancy health status along with placental morphology determines neonatal health status. Hence, variations in the maternal nutritional status lead to adverse pregnancy outcome.
KEYWORDS: Gestation, Maternal pre-pregnancy weight, Weight gain, Height, Placental weight, Placental surface area, Placental volume.