COMPARISON OF 5-SITE SKINFOLD THICKNESSES IN LATE PREGNANCY VS EARLY POSTPARTUM

To test the hypothesis that the sum (Sigma) of five skinfold thickness es in the immediate postpartum period is significantly less than that obtained in the last month of pregnancy in healthy American women, a s tandardized approach was used to measure skinfold thicknesses at five sites in 81 healthy, active women. Measures were obtained in the last month of pregnancy and again in the first month postpartum Prior to pr egnancy the subjects ranged in age from 24-39 years and weighed betwee n 45-87 kg. The Sigma of five skinfold thicknesses ranged between 34 a nd 162 mm. During pregnancy, weight gain ranged between 6.5-24.6 kg wi th a mean gain of 14.5 kg. The Sigma of five skinfold thicknesses peak ed between 8-36 weeks gestation and the peak increase ranged from -19 mm to +63 mm above preconceptual levels. In late pregnancy, the Sigma of five skinfold thicknesses ranged between 34.1 and 166.8 mm(mean = 9 1.7 mm), and postpartum, the range and mean values were similar (38.1- 156.4 mm. and 91.8 mm). When values obtained in late pregnancy are com pared with those obtained postpartum, the r(2) value was 0.9122. There was also good correlation at each of the skinfold sites (r(2')s = 0.8 001-0.9239), except the abdomen (r(2) = 0.6049). In conclusion, the hy pothesis is incorrect; the Sigma of five skinfold thicknesses in the i mmediate postpartum period is as acceptable a measure of late pregnanc y subcutaneous fat deposition and/or retention as that obtained in the last month of pregnancy in present day healthy American women, (C) 19 98 Wiley-Liss, Inc.