Introduction: The postpartum period may be a critical time for long-term weight gain and the development of maternal obesity. Excess weight gain during pregnancy and persistent weight retention 1 year postpartum are strong predictors of overweight a decade or more later, 14-20% of women retained 1-5 kg at 6 to 18 months postpartum. Women who did not return to their pre-pregnancy weight 6 -18 months postpartum are more likely to develop obesity in the long term. Aim of the work :was to study the rela-tion between postpartum weight retention and future pregnancy outcomes as: preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, amount of weight gain during preg-nancy, abortion rate, need for labor induction, cesarean section rates, oc-currence of shoulder dystocia, fetal macrosomia, preterm labor, fetal death, accidental hemorrhage, congenital anomalies and abnormal presentations.
Results: In our study 152 women were recruited. Patients were divided into two groups according to history and examination in to: Group I: 76 women who retained more than 5 kg at 12-18 months after the previous delivery and maintained till the next pregnancy. Group II (control group): 76 women who reached their pre-pregnancy weight at 12- 18 months post-partum or retained less than 5 kg from the previous pregnancy.According to our study there was statistical significant between retention of weight more than 5 kg with incidence of abortion, gestational diabetes, cesarean section and preeclampsia, where preeclampsia was more common with retention of weight above 8 kg in between pregnancy and there was no statistical signification with retention of weight with congenital anomalies, preterm labour, breech, induction of labour ,deep vein thrombosis, intra-uterine fetal death and postpartum hemorrhage.
Conclusion: Increase in the weight retention more than 5 kg showed in-crease in abortion, cesarean section, gestational diabetes mellitus and pre-eclampsia. There were no statistical difference between retention of weight and congenital anomalies, preterm labor, breech, deep vein thrombosis, intrauterine fetal death and postpartum hemorrhage.