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Relation between maternal obesity and fetal congenital malformations

Background: There is evidence suggests that there is an association between maternal obesity and some congenital abnormalities. Objective: Since there is no local study has been examined the relation between maternal pregnancy obesity and overweight and fetal congenital malformations, we explored this relation in Babylon women and compared our findings with previous studies. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was carried on patients admitted to Babil Obestetric and Pediatric Teaching Hospital in Babylon city, Iraq, from April 2016 to April 2017. Data were collected by history, clinical examination, and investigations and body mass index was measured for all patients. All neonates examined by pediatrician and surgeon to detect any congenital malformations. All the mothers of case infants or control infants of age more than 35 years or <18 years were excluded from this study. Control infants are infants without any congenital malformations. All the mothers with positive tests for toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus, rubella, or proved to have diabetes and surgical problems were also excluded from the study. All the mothers living in an area known to have a history of radiation exposure were also excluded. The affected infants have been identified. The risks for obese and overweight women were compared with those for average-weight women. Results: Obese women (study cases) have more infants with neural tube defect, especially spina bifida and anencephaly than were average-weight women (control). Obese women were more likely to have an infant with hydrocephaly defect in compare to average-weight women. Over-weight women also have an infant with defects, such as meningocele, spina bifida, meningocele and hydrocephaly, multiple abnormalities, hydrocephaly, meningocele and anencephaly, and anencephaly. There were no significant associations between congenital malformations and underweight women. Conclusions: Our study gives an evidence that there is an association between maternal obesity and fetal congenital malformations. Maternal obesity constitutes a serious health risk for the fetus the impact of which increases with the degree of obesity.