The study population concerned obese pregnant women (BMI ≥ 30 kg / m² before pregnancy) and their newborn and normal weight pregnant women (18.5 ≤IMC <25 kg/m²) and their newborn as control. Inclusion criteria were body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2 or 18.5 ≤ BMI < 25 kg/m2, 18 ≤ age ≤ 40 years, singleton pregnancy. Exclusion criteria were: 25 ≤ BMI <30 kg/m2, age < 18 or > 40 years, multiple pregnancy, first consultation after 18 WG, pregestational diabetes, obesity due to genetic disorder or secondary to intracranial tumor or radiotherapy, bariatric surgery, chronic diseases other than the obesity, inability to converse in French language. The matching criteria for controls were: age ± 5 years, primigravida or multigravida, duration of gestation ± 4 weeks.
The main objective of this project was to assess the independent effect of maternal obesity:
- on the weight and adipose tissue of newborn
- on the function of adipose tissue (production of leptin and adiponectin)
- on fetal growth factors (C-peptide, IGF-1)
- on carbohydrate metabolism of the newborn. Two maternities were involved in the study: Pitié Salpêtrière and Armand Trousseau, in Paris, France. This research was conducted over a 3 years period. The duration of participation of each woman corresponded to the duration of pregnancy care and duration of care for the newborn immediately after birth, usually the length of stay in the maternity.
The only differences compared to the usual care included:
- Additional oral glucose tolerance test at 32 weeks of gestation;
- Determination of fasting blood glucose during late pregnancy
- Maternal blood samples on arrival at the delivery room
- Drawing blood from the umbilical cord after section;
- Skinfold measurement of the newborn within 72 hours of life.