Antenatal detection of fetal growth restriction and stillbirth risk in mothers with high and low body mass index

Objective Maternal obesity is associated with an increased risk of stillbirth. The authors wanted to study the relationship between stillbirth risk and the antenatal detection of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in mothers with high and low body mass index (BMI). Method The cohort consisted of 48 357 consecutive pregnancies delivered in one of six participating maternity units. Maternal BMI was grouped as Results Stillbirth risk rose incrementally with BMI categories, from 2.8 (BMI Conclusion The increased risk of stillbirth in pregnancies with high maternal BMI is associated with an elevated rate of fetal growth restriction. The lowest stillbirth risk is in low BMI mothers, where antenatal detection rates of IUGR are highest. The correlation between increasing stillbirth risk and undetected IUGR warrants further investigation, and suggests that at least some of these deaths could be avoided by improved antenatal surveillance.