Abstract

THE EFFECT OF INCREASED MATERNAL BODY MASS INDEX ON PRIMARY POSTPARTUM HEMORRHAGE

Dr. Nehal Shaker Mahmud*, Dr. Layla Fadel Shuker and Dr. Khilud Salim Al-Salami

ABSTRACT

Excessive weight has become one of the major health problems worldwide, especially with globally increasing prevalence and the wide range of accompanying health problems. Body Mass Index is the most commonly used method to estimate the degree of obesity. Objective: To estimate whether maternal obesity was associated with an increased risk for postpartum hemorrhage. Patient and Methods: This study is a prospective comparative study based on women attending labour ward at Al-Basrah General Hospital conducted from the first of August 2011 to the 30th of August 2012. A total of 400 women with singleton pregnancies who attend the labour ward were divided into four body mass index classes, obese women (class I, II, III) were compared with normal weight women concerning the risk for postpartum hemorrhage after suitable adjustments. Result: There was an increased prevalence of postpartum hemorrhage over the study period associated with increasing BMI. There was an increased risk for postpartum hemorrhage for women with a BMI of 25 or higher(85%) after normal delivery (odds ratio [OR] 51, 95% confidence interval [CI] 26-98) compared with normal weight women. Conclusion: The increased risk for postpartum hemorrhage in the obese group has an important clinical implications, such as considering administration of prophylactic postpartum uterotonic drugs to this group. Aim of the Study: To estimate whether obesity was associated with increased risk of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH).

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