IMPACT OF OBESITY ON OBSTETRICAL PRACTICE AND OUTCOME

Abstract

Objective: To find out the complications occurring during pregnancy, delivery and in post
partum period in obese and non-obese pregnant women.
Study Design: Cross sectional study
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Fatima Memorial
Hospital,Lahore
Patients and Methods: Sixty pregnant females with singleton pregnancy were selected in the
study. Women with BMI>30 were taken as obese and those less that 30 were taken as nonobese. Complications like gestational diabetes, hypertension, induction of labour, delay in
second stage of labour, instrumental vaginal deliveries or operative deliveries, third or fourth
degree perineal tear, wound infection and thromboembolism were assessed in all patients.
Results: The mean age in group A was 25. + 2.9 years and in group B was 25.0 +2.7 years. The
complications during pregnancy were as follows: gestational diabetes and gestational
hypertension were found in 6 (20%) and 14(44.7%) in group Awhile 3 (10%) and 1(3.3%) in group
B respectively. 16 (53.3%) patient had induction of labour in group Aand 8 (26.7%) in group B. In
group A only 8 (26.7%) patients had spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD), 7 (23.3%) patients
delivered by instrumental vaginal deliveries and 15 (50%) patients underwent Caesarean
section. In group B, 18(60%) were delivered by SVD, 4 (13.3%) had instrumental vaginal delivery
and 8 (26.7%) had caesarean section. Third degree perineal tears occurred in 6 patients from
group A and 5 patients from group B. Fourth degree perineal tears occurred in four patients only
from group A. During postpartum period seven patients from group Aand two patients from group
B had wound infections. One patient from group Ahad thromboembolism
Conclusion: Obese pregnant patients have more complications during pregnancy, delivery
and postpartum period than non-obese pregnant women.