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  • Title: Maternal obesity, uterine activity, and the risk of spontaneous preterm birth.
    Author: Ehrenberg HM, Iams JD, Goldenberg RL, Newman RB, Weiner SJ, Sibai BM, Caritis SN, Miodovnik M, Dombrowski MP, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Maternal–Fetal Medicine Units Network (MFMU).
    Journal: Obstet Gynecol; 2009 Jan; 113(1):48-52. PubMed ID: 19104359.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: To assess the associations among maternal obesity, uterine contraction frequency, and spontaneous preterm birth in women at risk for spontaneous preterm birth. METHODS: In a secondary analysis, we analyzed data from 253 women at risk for spontaneous preterm birth (prior spontaneous preterm birth, vaginal bleeding) enrolled in a multicenter observational study of home uterine activity monitoring at 11 centers. All women wore a uterine activity monitor twice daily from 22 weeks through 34 weeks of gestation. Mean and maximal contractions/hour at 22-24, 25-26, 27-28, 29-30, 31-32 weeks, and at or after 33 weeks of gestation were compared between overweight/obese women (a body mass index [BMI] at 22-24 weeks greater than 25 kg/m) and normal/underweight women (a BMI of 25 kg/m or less) at each gestational age interval. Multivariable analysis evaluated the influences of BMI, contractions, fetal fibronectin, and transvaginal cervical length on spontaneous preterm birth before 35 weeks. RESULTS: Obese/overweight women (n=156) were significantly less likely to experience spontaneous preterm birth before 35 weeks (8.3% compared with 21.7%, P<.01). For each gestational age interval before 32 weeks, obese/overweight women had fewer mean contractions/hour (P<.01 for each) and maximal contractions/hour (P<.01 for each) than normal/underweight women, although their mean cervical lengths (34.3 mm compared with 33.1 mm, P=.25), and fetal fibronectin levels (7.1% compared with 7.2% 50 ng/mL or more, P=.97) were similar at study enrollment. Obese/overweight status was associated with a lower risk of spontaneous preterm birth before 35 weeks after controlling for contraction frequency and other factors evaluated at 22-24 weeks, but not at later periods. CONCLUSION: Obese/overweight women at risk for spontaneous preterm birth exhibit less uterine activity and less frequent spontaneous preterm birth before 35 weeks of gestation than normal/underweight women. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.
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