Frequency of large for gestational age fetus in females presenting with increased maternal body mass index.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of large-for-gestational-age (LGA) fetuses among obese pregnant women and explore the relationship between LGA and maternal characteristics such as BMI, age, gestational age, and parity. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, HBS Medical & Dental College, Islamabad. Period: Six months October 1^st, 2023 to March 30th, 2024. Methods: Ninety-five pregnant women with a gestational age of 30 weeks and above, and a BMI of 30 or higher, were recruited through non-probability consecutive sampling. Maternal demographic details, gestational age, BMI, and parity were recorded, and LGA diagnosis was made using ultrasound assessment. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 23. Results: Among 145 participants, 72 (49.66%) had LGA fetuses. However, no significant correlations were found between LGA and maternal age (p = 0.810), gestational age (p = 0.056), parity (p = 0.812), or BMI categories (p = 0.698). Maternal obesity emerged as a significant determinant of LGA. Conclusion: The high prevalence of LGA fetuses among obese pregnant women highlights the need for clinical consideration of maternal obesity's impact on pregnancy outcomes. This study emphasizes the importance of developing targeted intervention strategies to reduce maternal obesity and its effects on fetal weight.