Maternal nutritional status, diabetes and risk of macrosomia among Native Canadian women

• Published in: Early human development 1998-02, Vol.50 (3), p.293-303
• Main Authors: Caulfield, Laura E, Harris, Stewart B, Whalen, Elaine A, Sugamori, Mark E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Birth Weight; Diabetes; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Female; Fetal Macrosomia - epidemiology; Fetal Macrosomia - etiology; Gestational Age; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Indians, North American; Macrosomia; Male; Maternal nutrition; Medical sciences; Native; Nutritional Status; Ontario; Pregnancy; Pregnancy in Diabetics - complications; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Risk Factors
• ISSN: 0378-3782; 1872-6232
• DOI: 10.1016/S0378-3782(97)00074-1

Multivariate methods were used to identify risk factors for macrosomia (birth weight >4000 g) among 741 singleton births to Native Canadian women from Sioux Lookout Zone, Ontario, Canada, in 1990–1993. The average birth weight was 3691±577 g, and 29.2% of infants weighed more than 4000 g at birth. Macrosomic infants were born at later gestational ages and were more likely to be male. Women delivering macrosomic infants were taller, entered pregnancy with higher body mass indexes (BMI) and gained more weight during pregnancy, but were less likely to smoke cigarettes. They were more likely to have previously delivered a macrosomic infant and to have had gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Risk of macrosomia was associated with maternal glycemic status; women with pre-existing diabetes were at greatest risk, followed by those with GDM A 2 (fasting glucose ≥6 mmol/l). Women with GDM A 1 (fasting glucose