Does gestational weight gain in normal pre-pregnancy BMI pregnant women reflect fetal weight gain?

OBJECTIVE To identify the correlation between gestational weight gain in pregnant women with normal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and fetal weight gain. MATERIAL AND METHOD Uncomplicated normal pre-pregnancy BMI Thai singleton pregnant women with less than 16 weeks' gestation participated in this study between June 2008 and September 2009. Serial measurements of maternal and fetal weight using ultrasound examination were recorded every four weeks from 16 to 36 weeks' gestation. RESULTS Two hundred seventy four uncomplicated pregnant women were included in this study of which 166 met inclusion criteria during a period of the study. There was a significant correlation between gestational weight gain and both estimated fetal weight gain and actual infant birth weight (p < 0.05). Using the multiple regression analysis, gestational weight gain between 16 to 28 weeks' gestation, multiparity, and male infants were independent factors and were significantly correlated with both fetal weight gain and actual infant birth weight (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION For pregnant women with normal pre-pregnancy BM, gestational weight gain can predict intrauterine fetal weight as well as infant birth weight.