Purpose: We investigated the relation between body mass index (BMI) value during labor and pregnancy outcomes in a group of Turkish population.
Methods: The data on 9,112 singleton pregnancies were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were classified into three groups according to their BMI values: normal (BMI 20-25 kg/m(2), n = 5,685, 62.4%), overweight (BMI 20-25 kg/m(2), n = 2,214, 24.3%) and obese (BMI >30 kg/m(2), n = 1,213, 33.3%).
Results: Gestational diabetes mellitus (P = 0.000), risk of delivering a baby >90th percentile (P = 0.000) and preeclampsia (P = 0.000) were increased in parallel with increased BMI. A statically significant difference was observed between the normal and obese groups in terms of the abdominal cesarean rates (P = 0.020). However, a significant difference was not observed in terms of preterm delivery (P = 0.846), birthweight <10th percentile (P = 0.484), placenta previa (P = 0.880), ablatio placenta (P = 0.499) and intrauterine death (P = 0.175) between the groups.
Conclusions: Regardless of the gestation, BMI is a factor that affects the fetal and maternal outcomes. The obese and overweight women should be followed up carefully during the labor and delivery.