OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the association between weight gain during pregnancy and perinatal complications: hypertensive pregnancy disease, gestational diabetes, emergency cesarean section and fetal macrosomia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Nested case-control study in a cohort of patients who received prenatal care and delivery care at the Regional General Hospital of the Mexican Social Security Institute of Ciudad Obregon, Sonora. The odds were calculated according to perinatal complications, pregestational body mass index and total weight gain throughout pregnancy.

RESULTS:

A follow-up cohort of 714 patients was selected, of whom only 426 were studied, which in turn were divided into two groups of 213 each: cases and controls. In the group of cases the frequency of obesity was 17.6% (n=55) and 40.3% (n=126) of overweight. In the control group 6.7% (n=21) of obesity and 50.8% (n=159) in controls. Compared with patients with normal pregestational weight, no significant risk of perinatal complications was observed in pre-gestational overweight (OR=0.79, CI 95%: 0.57-1.11, p=0.189). A significant risk was observed in patients with pregestational obesity (OR=2.63, CI 95%: 1.51- 4.60, p=.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Weight gain during pregnancy, higher than recommended, is a significant risk factor for perinatal complications, independent of pre-gestational weight.