The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #44104

Jamie Blair Bussel, MPH¹, Diane J. Abatemarco, MSW, PhD², Mona Shah, MPH³, Mary Hrywna, MPH⁴, and Edmond S. Malka, MPH¹. (1) UMDNJ-School of Public Health, Liberty Plaza, Suite 2200, PO Box 2688, New Brunswick, NJ 08903-2688, 732-235-9763, busselja@umdnj.edu, (2) Health Education and Behavioral Science, UMDNJ - School of Public Health, 335 George St, Liberty Plaza, Suite 2200, PO BOC 2688, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, (3) University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey School of Public Health, 335 George Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, (4) University of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ School of Public Health, 335 George Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08903

Weight gain recommendations for pregnant women have been highly controversial over the past century, ranging from rigid restrictions to encouragement of ample weight gain. In 1990, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) devised weight gain ranges with the main goal of improving infant birth weights. The purpose of this study is to review weight gain according to the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) recommendations with the purpose of observing whether the best balance of pregnancy outcomes are seen in women who gain weight within these guidelines. Data was obtained using the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) from a representative sample of 2203 New Jersey women who delivered a live-born infant within the previous 3-6 months. PRAMS was a point in time survey which posed questions about maternal behaviors around the time of pregnancy. Weight gain during pregnancy was gleaned from Electronic Birth Certificate data for the state and was analyzed according the ranges set forth by the Institute of Medicine. Preliminary findings suggest that the majority of women surveyed did not gain weight within the IOMs recommendations. However, those women who did gain weight according the IOM ranges experienced the lowest percentage of low birth weight infants. Indeed, maternal weight gain plays a role in birth weight. Consequently, interventions need to be created in order to assist pregnant women in achieving the current recommendations, which have been associated with the most optimum pregnancy outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

• 1-Understand the importance for pregnant women to gain adequate weight during their pregnancy
• 2-recognize the link between a womans weight gain during pregnany and infant birth weight
• 3-develop suggestions on steps to increase the number of pregnant women who gain weight within the IOMs recommendations

Keywords: Maternal Health, Infant Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.