Background and Objective: Obesity with its growing prevalence is a major public health problem influencing gestational age at delivery. Raised Body Mass Index (BMI) has been shown to be associated with significantly increased risk of prolonged pregnancy; which is an important contributor to perinatal morbidity and mortality. Obesity needs modified antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum care by obstetrician. Limited data is found regarding association of obesity with prolonged pregnancy and the same fact led us to search for this association. Methods: This cohort study was carried out in Gynecology and Obstetrics department, MTI Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from March 2020 to April 2021. Patients were enrolled in third trimester at 37 weeks of gestation with primary exposures of interest being either self-reported pre-pregnancy weight or obtained from first trimester antenatal record. Patients were divided into two classes based on BMI i.e., one with BMI <25 and other with BMI ≥ 25. Patients in both classes were followed till their delivery to determine outcome of gestational age at delivery. Results: Statistically significant difference between the two groups was seen at lower age range of 18-21 years(p-0.04) and higher age range of 39-42 years (p-0.0001). Statistically significant association was found between high pre pregnancy BMI and postdates pregnancy (OR:4.93 ;95%CI:1.98-12.26, p-0.001). Association of induction of labor with high pre pregnancy BMI was not significant. (OR 0.56, 95%CI:0.21-1.48, P < 0.001). Higher rates of Instrumental deliveries(p-0.0005) and cesarean sections (p-0.0001) were seen in higher BMI group. Conclusion: Higher pre-pregnancy BMI is associated with increased risk of postdates pregnancy. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.5.4815 How to cite this:Qazi Q, Liaqat N, Hussain SS, Syed W. Association of high Body Mass Index and postdates pregnancy. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(5):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.5.4815 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

BACKGROUND: Family planning helps couples to attain their desired number of children and proper timings of their births (1). It is best achieved with different contraceptive methods. Immediate postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device (IPPIUCD) is an excellent contraception providing safe, effective and long term reversible contraception in women after both normal delivery and c/section(2). It reduces postpartum undesired pregnancies and thus induced abortions (3). It is coitus independent, easy to insert and does not affect breastfeeding. Both care provider and client are available in the same setting, securing time and cost of interval IUD insertion.  PPIUCD is associated with primary complications like pregnancy and secondary ones as irregular vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, infection, expulsion and uterine perforation. PPIUCD counselling services regarding its common side effects and complications are important. There is minimal research comparing follow up outcomes between vaginal and caesarean insertions. The objective of study is to compare outcomes of IPPIUCD as a factor of route of insertion. METHODS: In this prospective comparative study 200 patients in whom postpartum IUCD was inserted within 10 minutes of delivery of placenta after normal vaginal delivery or c/section were included. About first 100 cases of vaginal and first 100 cases of intra-cesarean PPIUCD insertions formed study groups. Record of clients was maintained and analysis at 6 weeks to 12 weeks post insertion follow up visit was done at gynae and obstetric unit of Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar. RESULTS: Of total 1005 IPPIUCD inserted during the study period, about 156( 15.5%) were inserted intra-cesarean and 849 (84.4%) after vaginal delivery. Follow up of 200 (19.9%) clients i.e. about 100 intra-cesarean and 100 vaginal insertions was recorded. Complications rate was low. No life threatening complication such as perforation was recorded. Most common complications observed between vaginal vs intra-cesarean insertions were irregular vaginal bleeding in (11% vs 5%), abdominal pain(6% vs 9%), vaginal discharge(8% vs 5%),spontaneous expulsions  (8% vs 2%) and lost strings (14% vs 1%). Statistically significant difference was found between two groups with respect to lost strings (P=0.0006). CONCLUSION: IPPIUCD is an acceptable, safe (in terms of complications) and effective contraceptive option after both vaginal and intra-cesarean insertions. Early follow up examinations are helpful in identifying spontaneous expulsions and dealing common problem.