Association of maternal birth weight with the risk of low birth weight and small-for-gestational-age in offspring: A prospective single-center cohort study

Abstract

Background Although low birth weight in Japan has slightly increased over the past several decades, the association between maternal birth weight and pregnancy outcomes remains poorly understood. Methods In this hospital-based, prospective cohort study conducted at the National Center for Child Health and Development, we obtained information on pregnant women’s birth weight via their maternal and child health handbook. We analyzed 944 women born at term after dividing them into five categories according to their birth weight: <2500 g, 2500–2999 g, 3000–3499 g, 3500–3999 g, and ≥4000 g. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and trend analysis were used to elucidate the extent to which maternal birth weight was associated with small-for-gestational-age and low birth weight in offspring, as well as with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Results Compared with women with a birth weight of 3000–3499 g, those born with a birth weight <2500 g had a significantly higher risk of low birth weight (adjusted odds ratio: 5.39, 95% confidence interval: 2.06–14.1) and small-for-gestational-age (adjusted odds ratio: 9.11, 95% confidence interval: 3.14–26.4) infants. No significant association was found between the incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and preterm birth. A linear relationship was observed between the lower birth weight categories and a higher risk of low birth weight and small-for-gestational-age (p-values for trends: 0.009 and <0.001, respectively), but no linear relationship was observed for the risk of preterm birth and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (p-value for trends: 0.317 and 0.157, respectively). Conclusions Our findings suggest that lower maternal birth weight is associated with small-for-gestational-age and low birth weight in offspring of women born at term.

Differences in Rates of Low Birth Weight among Prefectures in Japan: An Ecological Study Using Government Statistics Data

“…Current differences in health statuses among prefectures can lead to differences in health statuses in subsequent generations. It has been suggested that lower maternal birth weight is associated with low-birth-weight infants in Japan [48]. Therefore, health guidance not only for middle-aged or older women with obesity but also for younger women with obesity might also be needed.…”

Maternal birth weight is an indicator of preterm delivery: the Japan environment and children’s study

“…However, data on the mother's delivery weeks were not collected in the JECS. With reference to previous studies, MBW was classified into five categories as follows: < 2,500 g, 2,500-2,999 g, 3,000-3,499 g, 3,500-3,999 g, and ≥ 4,000 g. 28,31 MBWs of < 500 g or > 6,000 g were treated as improbable data in this study. 10,32 Definition of PTD, early PTD, and late PTD Information on delivery week was transcribed from medical records in this study.…”

“…MBW, the main study exposure, was categorized into five groups as previously described, 28 with detailed characteristics shown in Table 2. The proportions of PTD, early PTD, and late PTD were higher among participants with an MBW < 2,500 g than among those with an MBW of 3,000-3,499 g. As MBW decreased, there were higher proportions of underweight participants and lower proportions of obese participants.…”

“…Recently, a Japanese single-center cohort study revealed that MBW was inversely associated with birth delivery to smaller babies (LBW and SGA) but not with PTD. 28 Here, we aimed to investigate the association between MBW and PTD using a nationwide prospective birth cohort study. We hypothesized that maternal LBW represents a higher risk of PTD, even after adjusting for numerous variables.…”

Maternal and neonatal factors associated with low birth weight among neonates delivered at the University of Gondar comprehensive specialized hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

“…The WHO describes low birth weight as a birth weight of <2,500 g regardless of the gestational age, and it continues to be a major public health issue globally with several short and long-term adverse outcomes ( 3 ). Low birth weight incorporates both premature births (a birth of newborns before 37 weeks of gestation) and small for gestational age (birth weights less than 10 th percentile for newborns of the same gestational age) ( 4 – 6 ). It can be caused by premature birth or the neonate being small for gestational age or both ( 5 ).…”