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The weight of women of reproductive age is increasing in the U.S. In three separate studies, researchers addressed the vexing question of whether recommendations for optimal weight gain during pregnancy should vary depending on prepregnancy body-mass index (BMI).
Two studies used data from the Missouri birth registry. In the first study, investigators evaluated women with normal prepregnancy BMIs. Compared with women who gained 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy, those who gained less than 25 pounds had lower odds for preeclampsia, cephalopelvic disproportion, failed induction of labor, cesarean delivery, and large-for-gestational-age infants and had higher odds for small-for-gestational-age infants. Women who gained more than 35 pounds (43% o…