Gestational weight gain and daily life impact of pregnancy symptoms in healthy women: A multivariable analysis

Objective

To study the relationship between gestational weight gain (GWG) and Daily Life Impact of Pregnancy Symptoms (DLIPS) scores.

Methods

A multivariable analysis of a clinical trial (the Walking Preg_Project (WPP), ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03735381) was conducted. The cohort data concerning GWG across gestational trimesters (T1, T2 and T3) was categorized into adequate, excessive, and reduced based on published criteria. DLIPS was measured using the pregnancy symptoms inventory (PSI) a validated tool, across the gestational trimesters. Univariable and multivariable analyses were employed to assess the association between the GWG categories and DLIPS scores in each trimester of pregnancy estimating the β-coefficients and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

There were 221 participants in the cohort. DLIPS mean score in the overall sample and within adequate, excessive, and reduced GWG categories significantly increased across pregnancy (p < 0.005). DLIPS mean score was higher in the excessive GWG category compared to adequate and reduced GWG, in T1 and T2 (p = 0.035; p = 0.031, respectively). An excessive GWG at T1 [β-coefficient (95 % CI) = 3.88, (0.84, 6.93)] and T2 [β-coefficient (95 % CI) = 4.47 (1.24; 7.70)] was associated with higher DLIPS score compared to an adequate GWG.

Conclusion

The impact of pregnancy symptoms on daily life increased throughout pregnancy, overall. Excessive GWG was associated with daily life impact of pregnancy symptoms, particularly in the first and second trimester.