Maternal Nutritional Status and Low Birth Weight: A Prospective Cohort Study

Low birth weight is still a problem in developing countries such as in Indonesia. Poor maternal nutritional status has been associated with low birth outcomes. The study objective was to examine the influences of maternal nutritional status on birth weight. A total 201 pregnant mothers with age ≥ 20 years were followed from first trimester until they delivered in several antenatal clinics in Padang City. Maternal nutritional status and birth weight were collected from medical records and measurements. Independent T-Test and Mann-Whitney were used to examine the difference between maternal nutritional status and maternal calorie intake based on birth weight. Result showed that mean (± SD) of birth weight was 3053.53±363.30 g/d. Most of mothers before pregnancy had normal BMI (75.6%) and a total weight gain during pregnancy (10.34 kg) was less than recommendation. Mean of maternal calorie intake was 1834.1±220.7 cal/day, lower than standard (<80% of RDA). Mothers who delivered with low birth weight had a significant lower for the mean of BMI before pregnancy, weight gain, and calorie intake during pregnancy than those who delivered with neonatal normal weight (p<0.05). Maternal nutritional status of pre-pregnancy, total weight gain and calorie intake during pregnancy had impact to birth weight