The Impact of Maternal Obesity on Labor and Delivery Outcomes: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Background: Maternal obesity is a recognized risk factor for adverse labor and delivery outcomes. This study aims to compare the labor and delivery outcomes between obese and non-obese pregnant women to better understand the influence of obesity on these processes. Methods: A retrospective comparative study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital, involving a total sample size of 220 women categorized into obese (n=110) and non-obese (n=110) groups based on pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI). The primary outcomes measured included the duration of labor, rates of epidural anesthesia, spontaneous and assisted vaginal deliveries, labor induction, cesarean sections, and perinatal complications such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. Secondary outcomes assessed were postpartum hemorrhage, infection rates, and length of hospital stay. Results: The study found that obese women had a significantly longer average duration of labor (12.4 hours vs. 10.8 hours, p=0.007), higher rates of labor induction (65.5% vs. 48.2%, p=0.013), and cesarean sections (46.4% vs. 34.5%, p=0.038) compared to non-obese women. Additionally, obese women were less likely to have spontaneous vaginal deliveries (50% vs. 63.6%, p=0.028) and more likely to require assisted vaginal deliveries (15.5% vs. 9.1%, p=0.032). Rates of gestational diabetes (26.4% vs. 10.9%, p=0.002) and preeclampsia (20.9% vs. 8.2%, p=0.005) were also significantly higher in the obese group. Furthermore, obese women experienced more postpartum complications such as hemorrhage (12.7% vs. 5.5%, p=0.016) and infections (11.8% vs. 3.6%, p=0.023), and had a longer hospital stay (4.5 days vs. 3.8 days, p=0.011). Conclusion: This study underscores the significant impact of maternal obesity on labor and delivery outcomes, including increased durations of labor, higher intervention rates, and greater perinatal and postpartum complications. These findings highlight the need for targeted prenatal care and intervention strategies to manage obesity-related risks during pregnancy and delivery.