PREGNANCY HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH LOW MATERNAL BODY-MASS INDEXES

Analysis of the obstetric records of 41,955 public patients with singl eton pregnancies at the Mater Misericordiae Mothers' Hospital, South B risbane, showed a significant association (increased odds ratio) betwe en Low Maximum Pregnancy Maternal Body Mass Index (Quetelets Index 20- 24.6 and maternal anaemia, the use of intravenous tocolysis, low birth -weight ( < 1,500 g and < 2,500 g), low Apgar score (<7 at 5 minutes) and perinatal mortality. Parturients with a Very Low Body Mass Index ( Quetelets Index < 20) had even greater odds ratios in respect of the a bove obstetric hazards. Both the Low and Very Low Body Mass Index coho rts had significantly reduced risks of having hypertension (both essen tial and preeclamptic) or having their labours induced or augmented. T he results are presented as odds ratios with confidence limits after c ontrolling for the potentially confounding covariables of maternal age , parity, smoking habits and gestational age.