The Relation between Prepregnancy Body Mass Index and Abnormal Placental Morphology and Birth Weight

Abstract

Background: Birth is enormously important, and the care that a woman receives during laboraffects women`s health physically and emotionally in the short and long-term periods. The placentaplays a pivotal role during pregnancy by being intimately connected to the mother and fetus. Aim ofthe current study is to examine the relation between prepregnancy body mass index and abnormalplacental morphology and birth weight. Methods: A descriptive correlational research design wasused for this study to achieve the study aim. Sample: A purposive of 150 laboring women wereenrolled in the study. Setting: the study was conducted at the delivery unit at Al kaser AliniUniversity Hospital, Cairo University, Egypt.Tools: Three tools were used to collect the data; 1)Structured Interviewing Questionnaire, 2) Maternal Assessment Tool, And 3) Neonatal AssessmentTool. Results: The mean age of the study sample was 29.77 ± 5.47 years old. The meanprepregnancy body mass index (BMI) was 26.22 ±3.20 and there is a positively correlated with itand newborn birth weight (r=0.18; p=0.02), placental weight (r=0.16; p =0.04), and placentalthickness (r=0.21; p=0.03). Conclusions: The study findings concluded that prepregnancy bodymass index parameters which are known to influence birth weight and determinants of abnormalplacental morphology. Recommendations: Authoritive personnel should encourage protocols anddevelop guides/checklists for placental examination in health care facilities