{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.04338983050847458, 'fraction_numerical': 0.04, 'mean_word_length': 4.83399209486166, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Maternal gestational weight and body composition are associated with placental weight in rural Bangladesh

Placental growth is a strong predictor of fetal growth. This study examined associations between maternal nutritional status during pregnancy and placental weight. In the context of a randomized trial of multiple micronutrient supplementation, pregnant women were measured at baseline (~9 wks), 20 weeks, 32 weeks, and birth. These are preliminary results based on 303 singleton live births of 500 women enrolled. Data collection will be completed by Nov, 2010. Women were short (149 ± 5 cm), and thin (19.6 ± 2.6 kg/m2); 36% were primiparous. Placentas and newborns (r=0.69) were light with medians (IQR) of 336 g (298–396) and 2.7 kg (2.4–2.9 kg). In confounder‐adjusted linear regression, a BMI ≥18.5 in early pregnancy was associated with a 30 g (12–49 g) increase in placental weight. Additionally, maternal gains in early and late pregnancy were associated with increases in placental weight (4 g and 8 g per kg, respectively). Baseline upper arm fat area and late pregnancy muscle area gain were also associated with small, but significant placental weight increases (2 g and 8 g per cm2, respectively). Maternal early pregnancy BMI and upper arm fat area, weight gain, and arm muscle area gain appear to be important influencers of placental weight. Placental weight warrants more attention in the study of maternal nutritional status and infant size at birth.