Gestational weight gain charts for twin pregnancies in Southeast China

Abstract

Background: To establish age-standardized charts of weight gain for term twin pregnancies in Southeast China. Methods: We designed a retrospective study on data from women pregnant with twins, a gestational age beyond 36 weeks and an average weight ≥ 2500 g. We established hierarchical linear regression models to express gestational weight gain patterns. Results: We analyzed data from 884 women pregnant with twins (151 underweight, 597 normal weight, and 136 overweight). Our final models fit the crude weight measurement data well. The means of weight gain generally decreased as the pre-pregnancy BMI increased. For each BMI category, the mean weight gains increased with the gestational age and the standard deviation increased slightly. The mean weight gains were 18.82 ± 6.73, 18.53 ± 6.74, and 16.97 ± 6.95 kg at 37 weeks in underweight, normal weight, and overweight women, respectively. Conclusion: The weight gain chart can be used to estimate maternal weight gain to be gestational agestandardized z scores by pre-pregnancy BMI and may serve as an innovative tool for perinatal care providers to guide the weight gain of women pregnant with twins.

Investigation of optimal gestational weight gain for twin pregnancy in Southwest China: a retrospective study

“…Prepregnancy BMI was defined as prepregnancy weight (in kilograms) divided by squared height (in meters). The participants were classified into four groups according to the Chinese BMI standard: underweight (< 18.5 kg/m 2 ), normal weight (18.5–23.9 kg/m 2 ), overweight (24–27.9 kg/m 2 ), and obese (≥ 28 kg/m 2 ) 10 , 15 . Total GWG as the primary variable was computed as weight before delivery minus prepregnancy weight.…”

“…Gestational weight gain (GWG) can be an indicator of the nutritional level of pregnant women and is closely associated with maternal and fetal outcomes 10 , 11 . Combining higher pregnancy risk with increased nutritional demands in twin pregnancies than in singleton pregnancies, optimal weight gain for twin pregnancies deserves more examination 12 .…”

“…Numerous studies have focused on singleton gestation, and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) provided guidelines for optimal weight gain during pregnancy in 2009, whereas only “provisional” guidelines were provided for twin pregnancy 12 , 13 . In view of the IOM recommendations, many studies about the association of GWG and pregnancy outcomes have been conducted in twin pregnancy, but very few studies have focused on non-industrialized countries, including China 14 Due to differences between industrialized countries and non-industrialized countries in ethnicity, culture, and dietary habits, Chinese adult BMI levels are lower than those found in the World Health Organization (WHO), and their recommendations may not be appropriate for Chinese pregnant women 10 . Thus, the aim of our study was to explore an optimal GWG range that is suitable for twin pregnancies in the Chinese population.…”

Investigation of optimal gestational weight gain for twin pregnancy in Southwest China: a retrospective study

“…Prepregnancy BMI was de ned as prepregnancy weight (in kilograms) divided by squared height (in meters). The participants were classi ed into four groups according to the Chinese BMI standard: underweight (< 18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5-23.9 kg/m2), overweight (24-27.9 kg/m2), and obese (≥ 28 kg/m2) 10,15 . Total GWG as the primary variable was computed as weight before delivery minus prepregnancy weight.…”

“…Numerous studies have focused on singleton gestation, and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) provided guidelines for optimal weight gain during pregnancy in 2009, whereas only "provisional" guidelines were provided for twin pregnancy 12,13 . In view of the IOM recommendations, many studies about the association of GWG and pregnancy outcomes have been conducted in twin pregnancy, but very few studies have focused on nonindustrialized countries, including China 14 Due to differences between industrialized countries and nonindustrialized countries in ethnicity, culture, and dietary habits, Chinese adult BMI levels are lower than those found in the WHO, and their recommendations may not be appropriate for Chinese pregnant women 10 . Thus, the aim of our study was to explore an optimal GWG range that is suitable for twin pregnancies in the Chinese population.…”