ABSTRACT
Background: Obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century. Obesity has reached epidemic proportions worldwide.
Objective: To detect the possible effect of maternal obesity on the accuracy of sonographically estimated fetal weight (EFW) in the third-trimester shortly before labor and to compare the accuracy of the estimation between normal weight, overweight, and class I, class II and class III obese groups.
Subjects and Methods: This was a prospective study of singleton pregnancies with sonographic fetal weight estimation prior to scheduled delivery. Women were classified according to current body mass index (BMI) into five categories: normal (BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m2, n = 30), overweight (BMI 25.0–29.9 kg/m2, n = 30), obese class I (BMI 30.0–34.9kg/m2, n = 30), obese class II (BMI, 35.0–39.9 kg/m2, n = 30) and obese class III (BMI ≥ 40.0 kg/m2, n = 30).The EFW was compared with the actual birth weight(ABW), and the difference between them was recorded.
Results: There was a statistically significant difference between US EFW by (g) and birth weight by (g) versus body mass index in obesity class II and III.
Conclusion: Maternal obesity decreased the accuracy of sonographic fetal weight estimation. Clinicians should be aware of the limitations of sonographic fetal weight estimation, especially in obese patients.