MOTHER'S BIRTH WEIGHT AFFECTS PREGNANCY OUTCOME

Abstract

Low birth weight (LBW) is recognized as the most important correlate of infant mortality, but many of the factors responsible for LBW are unknown. The relationship between maternal birth weight and infant birth weight was prospectively studied in the Buffalo, New York cohort of the Collaborative Perinatal Project. Among 1348 middle-class white women delivering singleton offspring, maternal birth weight was significantly associated with infant birth weight (p<.001). This association remained significant after adjustment for maternal age, height, weight, weight for height, smoking, education, socioeconomic index, parity, gravidity, pregnancy weight gain, and infant sex. Compared to women weighing 8 pounds or more at birth, women weighing 4 to 6 pounds were at 3.5 times the risk, and women weighing 6 to 8 pounds were 1.7 times the risk of having a LBW infant. Maternal birth weight was more important than smoking and comparable to prepregnancy weight in predicting the occurrence of LBW. Gestational age was not significantly different between groups. These data suggest the possible role of genetic and familial factors in the determination of birth weight. The relationship between LBW and infant mortality may depend on maternal birth weight.

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