Associations Between Maternal Nutritional Characteristics and the Anthropometric Indices of Their Full-term and Pre-term Newborns

A retrospective descriptive study was designed to compare maternal nutritional characteristics with the anthropometric data of their full-term and pre-term newborns. 100 post-partum women and their newborns were selected from Government Hospital, Mumbai. The case records and hospital records were examined to gather information about the last known pre-pregnancy weight, gestational weight gain, placental weight, gestational age of mothers. Prenatal data with regard to maternal height, third trimester weight and hemoglobin concentration were recorded by the hospital. Postnatal data with regard to maternal mid upper arm circumference and neonatal birth weight, length, mid upper arm circumference, head circumference, chest circumference was recorded using standardized technique. The technique of three days diet recall was used to obtain the maternal third trimester dietary intake. Maternal third trimester daily nutrient intake among terms deliveries was significantly higher [with regard to energy (2254 kcal), protein (69.7 g), carbohydrate (320.3 g)] as compared to those with pre-term deliveries [energy (2048 kcal), protein (59.7 g), carbohydrate (285.4 g)] (p<0.05). Though not statistically significant, the average birth weight of term newborns (2849 g) was higher than pre-term newborns (2772 g) (p=0.444). Positive correlations were noted with maternal third trimester hemoglobin concentration and birth weight (r=0.587, p=0.001), length (r=0.347, p=0.044), mid upper arm circumference (r=0.387, p=0.028) and chest circumference (r=0.496, p=0.006) of pre-term newborns, after adjustments for pre-pregnancy weight, gestational age (weeks), parity. There was a significant correlation between maternal third trimester energy and carbohydrate intake with birth weight, length, head circumference, chest circumference of term babies. Maternal energy intake did not influence head circumference of pre-term. Protein intake was associated with birth weight of all deliveries. Regression analysis showed positive association between head circumference and fat intake among term delivery (r=0.357, p=0.002). In conclusion, this study showed that maternal third trimester hemoglobin concentration correlated with birth weight, length, mid upper arm circumference and chest circumference of pre-term newborns. This study highlights significant dietary influences on anthropometric indices among newborns. Hence nutritional status and hemoglobin concentration of the mothers was found to contribute significantly to the newborns size at birth.