# Assessment of Systemic and Periodontal Conditions in Pregnant Women and Their Impact on Neonatal Birth Weight: A Prospective Cohort Study

## TL;DR

This study found that weight gain during pregnancy is linked to higher neonatal birth weight, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Contribution

The study identifies pregnancy weight gain as a protective factor against low birth weight during the pandemic.

## Key findings

- Mothers with normal-weight babies had greater weight gain during pregnancy.
- A one-unit increase in pregnancy weight reduces the likelihood of low birth weight by 11.3%.
- Periodontitis cases increased in both groups during the study period.

## Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess some variables of women in the 27th week of pregnancy and after childbirth, in addition to determining which of these variables were associated with low birth weight during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The patients were divided into two groups: mothers with normal-weight babies (G1 = 60) and mothers with below-normal-weight babies (G2 = 16). The variables assessed were education, monthly family income, anthropometric parameters, systemic health, periodontal condition, oral hygiene habits, Oral Health Impact Profile–14 results, data from the babies at birth, and a COVID-19 diagnosis during pregnancy. The mothers in G1 showed greater weight gain during pregnancy. There was an increase in tooth plaque percentage, probing pocket depth, and clinical attachment level during the study period for both groups and an increase in periodontitis cases in the patients from G1. The mothers from G1 had longer pregnancy periods and delivered taller babies with a higher body mass index. A one-unit increase in weight during pregnancy decreases the likelihood of having a below-normal-weight baby by 11.3% [confidence interval = 2.4–20.4%]. Weight gain during pregnancy is a protective factor that decreases the likelihood of babies being born with below-normal weights.