To weigh or not to weigh in pregnancy: a retrospective study

Introduction A rise in the number of caesarean sections and the rate of birth weight over 4kg prompted an advanced midwife practitioner service to introduce routine weighing for all service users and target weight gain based on Institute of Medicine guidelines. The study's aims were to ascertain if maintaining weight gain reduced pre-eclampsia, caesarean section births, birth weight over 4kg and neonatal intensive care unit admissions. Methods A retrospective study of weight gain and outcomes for 53 pre- and 46 post-routine weighing service users was conducted. Results Over a third (40%) of participants gained excess weight, with a 22% caesarean section rate and 22% of babies weighed over 4kg at birth. There was an overall 6% reduction in caesarean section births and a 22% reduction in babies weighing over 4kg. Conclusions Routine weighing and health promotion techniques have the potential to maximise health and wellbeing and could be a long-term investment in the health and wellbeing of mothers and babies.