A clinical study of association of maternal height and estimated foetal weight on mode of delivery

Abstract

Background: Maternal height and antenatal estimated fetal weight can affect mode of delivery. The aims and objective of this study were to study the association between the mode of delivery and maternal height and estimated foetal weight. Methods: 240 full term primigravida women without any obstetric and medical complications who were admitted in Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital Wardha for delivery were randomly selected for study. After delivery 138 women who underwent caesarean delivery formed the study group and 102 women who underwent vaginal delivery formed control group. These two groups were compared for their maternal heights and antenatal estimated foetal weight (by Johnson’s formula). Results: In present study (1) Mean height of women in study group was 147 cm while that in control group was 155 cm. (2) Out of 49 short statured women (height ≤ 145 cm) 47 (95.91%) had emergency caesarean section and 2(4.08%) women were delivered vaginally. (3) Estimated foetal weight in study group was 2956 grams while that in control group was 2845 grams. Conclusions: We conclude that short statured women with larger baby size has higher incidence of emergency caesarean delivery.