A Longitudinal Comparative Study of Lipid Profile in Third Trimester of Pregnancy and End of Puerperium

Background: The postpartum period is associated with maternal metabolic changes geared towards returning the maternal homeostasis to the pre-pregnancy state. This study aimed at investigating the lipid profile in the postpartum period in comparison to the third trimester and control values. Methods: Blood Pressure (BP), Body Mass Index (BMI) and lipid profile were assessed using standard procedures. Results were presented in tables and graphs and p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: The systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 120.1±11.3 and 77.2±10.1 mmHg, 119.4±10.3 and 78.3±11.1 mmHg, 121.5±9.2 and 79.2±9.0 mmHg for the control, third trimester and 6 weeks postpartum respectively. There were no significant difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressures of the test subjects and control. The BMI were 22.5±3.1 Kg/m, 28.4±2.1 Kg/m and 29.4±2.4 Kg/m for control, third trimester and 6 weeks postpartum respectively. There was a statistical difference (p<0.05) between the BMI of control and third trimester. The lipid profile in the postpartum period was higher than the control values and this was statistically significant (p<0.05) for all lipids studied except the high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Conclusion: The clinically non-significant elevated lipid profile in the pregnancy period and decline in the postpartum period are physiological.