[Predictive factors of fetal macrosomia].

BACKGROUND

Fetal macrosomia is a condition which may increase the risk of mechanical and/or dynamic problems for the parturient. In the past, we have demonstrated that in more than half of the cases it is not possible to exclude a contribution of maternal pathology to the determination of fetal-macrosomia. The aim of this work is to verify whether our more recent experience regarding predictive factors of fetal macrosomia shows some noteworthy novelty.

METHODS

The study was retrospectively carried out on pregnant women who, during the period January 1994-February 1996, delivered babies weighing at least 4 kg at the Midwifery School of Camerino. With regard to the frequency of the main risk factors of fetal macrosomia described in scientific literature, the sample was compared with a control group randomly selected.

RESULTS

Advanced gestational age at the time of delivery, parental tallness, maternal overweight/obesity, gestational glucidic dysmetabolism, a distance between pubis and uterine fundus of at least 34 cm, male sex of the unborn child have proved to be predictive factors of fetal macrosomia.

CONCLUSIONS

The differences in comparison with the past, on the other hand altogether negligible, are the consequence of changes in the management of some obstetric situations.