Maternal anthropometric measurements and correlation to maternal and fetal outcomes in late pregnancy

Abstract

Background: Body mass index does not distinguish between lean and fat body mass; therefore, its utility defining body composition is limited in pregnancy. Anthropometric measurements may better represent variation in body composition among women who are overweight or obese. We sought to examine body fat composition using maternal anthropometric measurements in late pregnancy and correlate with mode of delivery. Methods: A prospective study of pregnant patients who were overweight (body mass index: 25–29.9 kg/m2) or obese (body mass index ⩾ 30 kg/m2) with singleton pregnancies who underwent anthropometric measurements between 27 weeks, 0 days to 34 weeks, 6 days gestation. Maternal skinfold thicknesses from eight sites were used to estimate body fat mass. Correlation of skinfold thickness, anthroprometric measurements, and estimated body fat percentage on mode of delivery were analyzed with p