Association among Cases of Women with first degree Family History of Diabetes Mellitus, Previous Macrosomia and Preterm Births, and Pregnancy Weight Gain at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, Nairobi City

Abstract

Weight gain during pregnancy is of great concern for most women and obstetricians because of its possible consequences. This concern exists because gestational weight gain that exceeds what is recommended by the Institute of Medicine is associated with many maternal and fetal complications. While excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) is associated with modifiable risk factors for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) notably, obesity and overweight conditions, there is a paucity of information on the association of cases of excessive GWG with non-modifiable risk factors (NMRF) for GDM namely history of diabetes mellitus in the first-degree family members as well as previous macrosomia and preterm deliveries. Method: The study prospectively monitored GWG in 337 women with a history of diabetes mellitus in first-degree family members as well as previous macrosomia and preterm deliveries. Data collected was analysed through bivariate regression to determine the odds of excessive GWG in the presence and absence of each of the three non-modifiable risk factors. Results: The non-modifiable risk factors of women of all BMIs were not found to be significantly associated with excessive GWG. For instance, a family history of DM in obese women was not associated with excessive GWG (P = 0.254; AOR = 0.715; 95%CI: 0.401-1.272). History of macrosomia in obese women was also not statistically significant (P = 0.973; AOR = 1.015; 95% CI: 0.429-2.402). Similarly, history of preterm births in obese women was not significantly associated with excessive GWG (P = 0.778; AOR = 0.902; 95%CI: 0.441-1.847). Conclusion: History of macrosomia and preterm births as well as family history of Diabetes mellitus cannot serve as predictors for excessive GWG because there is no association among them and excessive GWG by women of all BMIs.