Patterns of weight gain in pregnant women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus: an observational study

Zoe Stewart, Euan Morrison Wallace, Carolyn Anne Allan

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21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

To quantify late-pregnancy weight gain in women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to determine factors associated with gestational weight gain. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective clinical audit of 212 women (115 GDM and 97 non-GDM) who were weighed at each antenatal visit from 24-32 weeks gestation until delivery. Women received routine antenatal clinical care. For women with GDM, this included a 2-h lifestyle counselling session, capillary blood glucose testing and frequent clinical review. RESULTS: Women with GDM gained less weight than nondiabetic women (GDM: 1.18 kg (1.6 ) [range, 3.8-7.1 kg]; non-GDM: 4.0 kg (4.8 ) [range, 0.7-18.5 kg]; P <0.0001). Weight gain was influenced by body mass index and country of birth. Women with GDM showed reduced weight gain at weeks 1-4 postrecruitment, relative to weeks 4-8 (0.04 kg/week vs 0.45 kg/week; P <0.0001). Nondiabetic women gained weight at a constant rate. GDM status was the only independent predictor of postrecruitment weight gain. CONCLUSIONS: Application of a model of care for GDM (lifestyle advice and regular clinical review, in addition to home glucose monitoring) may reduce weight gain in women with GDM. The potential for applying a modified version of this model to all women in pregnancy warrants further study.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)433 - 439
Number of pages7
JournalAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Volume52
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012

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