The effect of body mass index value during labor on pregnancy outcomes in Turkish population (obesity and pregnancy outcomes)

We investigated the relation between body mass index (BMI) value during labor and pregnancy outcomes in a group of Turkish population. The data on 9,112 singleton pregnancies were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were classified into three groups according to their BMI values: normal (BMI 20-25 kg/m(2), n = 5,685, 62.4%), overweight (BMI 20-25 kg/m(2), n = 2,214, 24.3%) and obese (BMI > 30 kg/m(2), n = 1,213, 33.3%). Gestational diabetes mellitus (P = 0.000), risk of delivering a baby > 90th percentile (P = 0.000) and preeclampsia (P = 0.000) were increased in parallel with increased BMI. A statically significant difference was observed between the normal and obese groups in terms of the abdominal cesarean rates (P = 0.020). However, a significant difference was not observed in terms of preterm delivery (P = 0.846), birthweight < 10th percentile (P = 0.484), placenta previa (P = 0.880), ablatio placenta (P = 0.499) and intrauterine death (P = 0.175) between the groups. Regardless of the gestation, BMI is a factor that affects the fetal and maternal outcomes. The obese and overweight women should be followed up carefully during the labor and delivery.