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Review of the findings and methodology in the study of gestational weight gain and birthweight in twins

Pugh, Sarah (2013) Review of the findings and methodology in the study of gestational weight gain and birthweight in twins. Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.

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Abstract

Objectives: To systematically evaluate findings from the current literature on the association between gestational weight gain and infant birthweight and ‘ideal’ or ‘optimal’ birth outcome in twin pregnancies and highlight the methodological limitations in this literature. Methods: We conducted a systematic review using a combination of MeSH search terms, including ‘gestational weight gain’ ‘twins’ and ‘birthweight’ using PubMed and Ovid MEDLINE. Articles were cross-referenced and citations were reviewed from the 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, “Weight Gain During Pregnancy: Reexamining the guidelines”. Fourteen studies were selected for the review based on inclusion criteria of gestational weight gain as the exposure and infant birthweight as an outcome. Results: A trend of increasing total, total rate, and trimester specific rate of gestational weight gain was positively associated with infant birthweight and the likelihood of an ‘ideal’ or ‘optimal’ birth outcome; a combination of birth weight and gestational age, in women who were underweight and normal weight before pregnancy. Evidence was equivocal in overweight and obese women. Discussion: The studies reviewed provide some evidence of an association between increased gestational weight gain and improved twin birth weight. However, there are major methodologic limitations with the literature, leading to unclear findings. Future studies should aim to use gestational weight gain measurements that account for gestational length and incorporate twin specific measurements such as chorionicity, zygosity, and gender discordance to provide data needed to inform public health recommendations for optimal weight gain ranges in twin pregnancies.

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Details

Item Type: Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper (Master Essay)
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Pugh, Sarahsap79@pitt.eduSAP79
Contributors:
ContributionContributors NameEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairBodnar, Lisabodnar@edc.pitt.eduLBODNARUNSPECIFIED
Committee MemberHimes, Katherinehimekp@upmc.eduUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Date: May 2013
Date Type: Publication
Defense Date: 2013
Submission Date: 24 May 2013
Access Restriction: 2 year -- Restrict access to University of Pittsburgh for a period of 2 years.
Publisher: University of Pittsburgh
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: School of Public Health > Epidemiology
Degree: MPH - Master of Public Health
Thesis Type: Master Essay
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: gestational, weight, gain, twins, pregnancy, review
Date Deposited: 11 May 2015 14:59
Last Modified: 30 Mar 2022 11:55
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/18797

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