Gestational weight gain and pregnancy outcomes: where does delivery timing fit in?

Abstract

Gestational weight gain is a modifiable risk factor that impacts both short and long term maternal and child health (1). In 2009, the Institute of Medicine (IOM, now the National Academy of Medicine) published guidelines, “Weight Gain in Pregnancy, Reexamining the Guidelines”, recommending pregnancy weight gain goals stratified based on prepregnancy BMI (2). Achieving these goals in the United States has been difficult: in 2012–2013, only 32.1% of parturients met the recommended gestational weight gain target (3). Nonetheless, there is evidence supporting the use of dietary and lifestyle modifications to improve both maternal weight gain and obstetric outcomes (4,5).