Exploring the Impact of Prepregnancy Body Mass Index on Obstetric Outcomes: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Aim: Because pregnancy-related changes in a woman's body mass index (BMI) have a major impact on maternal and newborn health outcomes, these alterations have become a focus of attention in the fields of obstetrics and maternal-fetal medicine. We seek to clarify the complex relationships between prepregnancy BMI and perinatal outcomes, fetal health, and maternal health by critically analyzing and synthesizing a wide range of research findings. Materials and methods: A thorough search of the literature was part of our approach, and we used academic databases like PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. We used a mix of pertinent MeSH terms and keywords associated with prepregnancy BMI and obstetric outcomes. We considered research that looked into the relationship between prepregnancy BMI and different obstetric outcomes, and that was published between 2020 and the present. Excluded studies did not have precise prepregnancy BMI-related outcomes or peer-reviewed validation. Prepregnancy BMI categories, obstetric outcomes, participant characteristics, sample size, and study design were all covered by the identical form used for data extraction. Using the proper instruments, a quality evaluation was carried out, assessing the study design, sample representativeness, exposure measurement, and result ascertainment. Results: Our thorough investigation shows that prenatal BMI has a significant impact on the health of both the mother and the fetus. Underweight women have an increased risk of preterm births, low birth weight babies, and inadequate gestational weight gain. On the other hand, women who are overweight or obese are more likely to experience adverse outcomes such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, macrosomia, and excessive prenatal weight gain. These results highlight the significance of encouraging a healthy pre-conception weight to improve obstetric outcomes and highlight the crucial role that prepregnancy BMI plays in prenatal care and risk assessment. Conclusion: This review highlights the need for targeted healthcare programs to reduce the negative effects of obesity and encourage healthier pregnancies, offering insightful information to researchers, politicians, and healthcare practitioners. The results support evidence-based practice and worldwide improvements in maternal and newborn health, making a valuable contribution to the continuing evolution of maternal-fetal medicine.