Maternal overweight and obesity: the risk of Caesarean birth

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the relationship between pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity and caesarean birth, in labouring women, in the St. John's region. -- Methods: Using administration data from the Provincial Perinatal Database, this study examined 1,065 women from the St. John's region with live births between January 1, 2002 to November 30, 2003. -- Results: 151 (14.2%) women delivered by caesarean and 914 (85.8%) delivered vaginally. 519 (48.7%) were overweight/obese, 505 (47.4%) had acceptable weight, and 41 (3.8%) were underweight. Multiple logistic regression found that, after controlling for maternal age, parity, fetal size and pregnancy weight gain, obese/overweight women (BMI ~ 25) are 1.53 times (95% CI 1.04-2.26) more likely to give birth by caesarean than women of healthy body weight (BMI 18.5 to 24.9) -- Conclusion: Women who are overweight/obese prior to pregnancy are at increased risk for caesarean birth. Preconception and prenatal education promoting dietary and lifestyle modifications may reduce risk of caesarean birth.