The Relationship Between the Weight of the Placenta, Body Mass Index and Fetal Birth Weight Among Sudanese Women.

Abstract

Introduction: Accurate estimation of fetal birth weight is essential for the management of labor and delivery. The predictability of fetal weighs by clinical assessment and ultrasound is limited.

Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the association between fetal birth weight and placental weight and other demographic characteristics.

Methods: a total of 369 live born of a singleton term pregnancies (37 to 42 weeks gestations) were included in the study. Immediately after delivery, the placenta was weighed with cord and membranes. A linear regression was used to examine the effect of placental weight and other variables on fetal birth weight.

Results: The mean of birth weight was 3122.5±477.8 grams. Placenta weight had a mean of 556.92±112.488 grams. The mean gestational age was 39.0543±.89642 weeks. The association between the placental weight and the birth weight was significant, and we found that for each gram increase in placental weight, birth weight is increased by 2.848g (SE = 0.178, p < 0.01). Similarly, there was a significant association between placental weight and fetal birth weight, and we found that for each kg increase in maternal weight, birth weight is increased by 17.018 g (SE = 5.281, p =0.001).

Conclusion: Placenta weight and BMI are independent predictors of fetal birth weight.