Low Gestational Weight Gain in Women With Gestational Diabetes Is Safe With Better Metabolic Profile Postpartum

Abstract

Context: More data are needed on the potential benefits and risks of gestational weight gain (GWG) less than recommended and excessive GWG in women with gestational diabetes (GDM) compared to women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) during pregnancy. Objective: This work aimed to evaluate association of gestational weight gain (GWG) as low, within, or above (excessive) according to Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines, with pregnancy outcomes in women with gestational diabetes (GDM) and normal glucose tolerance (NGT). Methods: This prospective cohort study included 7 Belgian hospitals and 1843 women receiving universal GDM screening with a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. Pregnancy outcomes and postpartum characteristics were the main outcome measures. Results: Women with GDM and low GWG (n = 97, 52.4%) had similar rates of small-for-gestational age infants and preterm delivery, were less often overweight or obese postpartum (35.7% [30] vs 56.5% [26]; P