Adolescent Pregnancy Gestational Weight Gain and Maternal and Infant Outcomes

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
• Objective. —To clarify the advantages and disadvantages of large gestational weight gain among pregnant adolescents. Design. —Prospective, longitudinal survey. Setting. —Adolescent-oriented maternity program in Rochester, NY. Participants. —One hundred forty-one poor, black, pregnant 12- through 19-year-olds grouped according to rate of gestational weight gain. Slow weight gain was defined as weight gain of less than 0.23 kg per week; average, 0.23 to 0.4 kg per week; and rapid, more than 0.4 kg per week. Interventions.—None. Measurements/Main Results. —Infants of rapid weight-gainers were significantly larger than infants of slower weight-gainers but did not experience fewer perinatal complications than other infants. Infants of slow weight-gainers were significantly smaller than infants of average and rapid weight-gainers and experienced more perinatal complications than other infants. Adolescents who gained weight rapidly retained more weight and, therefore, were more often obese after pregnancy. Conclusions. —The advantages of large weight gains for pregnant adolescents and their infants are well-documented; this study demonstrates the importance of balancing the long-term potential morbidity of maternal obesity against the benefits of enhanced fetal growth in formulating weight-gain recommendations for pregnant adolescents. (AJDC. 1992;146:1359-1364)