Risk Factors for Macrosomia

Objective To identify risk factors for macrosomic babies. Methods This cross-sectional analytical study was carried out in the University Teaching Hospital and the Central Hospital of Yaounde (Cameroon) from October 1st, 2012 to March 31st, 2013. Women who gave birth to >= 4,000 or 3,000-3,499 g babies were recruited. Variables recorded were fetal sex and birth weight, gestational age, maternal age, parity, mother's body mass index (BMI), weight gain during pregnancy, previous macrosomia, and father's BMI. Fisher exact test and student t-test were used for comparison. Level of significance was P < 0.05. Results Main risk factors for macrosomia are delivery of a previous macrosomic baby (OR 13.1), maternal weight gain >= 6 kg (OR 10.2), parity >= 3 (OR 4.8), father's BMI >= 30 (OR 3.7), male sex (OR 2.2), and post-term (OR 1.9). Conclusion Father's obesity should be added among the known risk factors for macrosomia.