Changes in Gestational Weight Gain and Birth Weight in Women who Delivered at Hyogo Prefectural Kaibara Hospital in Tamba, Japan during 27 Years.

Two independent guidelines on appropriate weight gain for Japanese pregnant women have been established in 1997 and 2006. This study aimed to evaluate changes in the amount of gestational weight gain in pregnant women, the birth weight of their neonates, and the incidence of complications of pregnancy and neonatal outcome in women who delivered at Hyogo Prefectural Kaibara Hospital. Between 1988 and 2014, 6367 women delivered live singleton neonates at full term. The study period was divided into period I (1988-1996), period II (1997-2005), and period III (2006-2014). Changes in weight gain and birth weight were assessed. Complications of pregnancy and neonatal outcome were compared among the periods. Weight gain had been decreased in periods I and II, and weight gain was increased in period III. There was no difference in birth weights between the periods. The incidences of pregnancy-induced hypertension in periods II and III were higher than that in period I (p<0.01). The incidences of vacuum extraction in periods II and III were less than that in period I (p<0.01). The incidence of macrosomia in periods II was less than that in period I (p<0.01). There were no significant differences in the incidence of cesarean section, light-for-date, heavy-for-date, or low birth weight among the three periods. The establishment of guidelines for weight gain and maternity education based on the two guidelines significantly affected complications of pregnancy and neonatal outcome. Prevention of pregnancy-induced hypertension might be difficult when only reducing weight gain in pregnant women.