Somatic traits of the mother, her weight gain during pregnancy as well as blood parameters, versus infant birth parameters

Introduction
The female body creates specific conditions for the growth of a foetus during pregnancy. It is important to assess a mother’s anthropometric and physiological parameters in the context of the development of particular parameters of the newborn in order to better monitor the course of pregnancy. One of such parameter is a woman’s body mass before pregnancy and its increase during pregnancy. Currently, overweight and obesity are a major problem in women of childbearing age.

Aim of the research
To assess the relationship between the mother’s anthropometric features, selected haematological indicators, and smoking during pregnancy, and birth parameters in her child.

Material and methods
A cohort study was conducted among 403 women with singleton pregnancy, who were admitted into the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic at the Regional Polyclinical Hospital in Kielce (Poland). Data about the women and their newborns were collected using a survey questionnaire, anthropometric measurements, and medical documentation. The following parameters of the newborns were registered: body length, head circumference, and Apgar score at one minute after birth. Among the newborns, 52.11% were boys and 47.89% were girls.

Results and conclusions
One-fourth of the women entered pregnancy with excessive weight or obesity. Multiple regression analysis showed that the mother’s somatic traits explained 13% of the variance of body mass, 9% of body length at birth, and 8% of the newborn’s head circumference. An excessive increase in mother’s body mass during pregnancy was associated with increased parameters of the newborn compared to mothers with a normal increase in body mass.