The Impact of Body Mass Index on Labour Management and Mode of Delivery: A Retrospective Matched Cohort Study

( Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol . 2024;64(3):216-222. doi: 10.1111/ajo.13769) Previous studies have associated maternal obesity with hyperglycemic disorders, hypertensive disorders, post-date pregnancies, fetal macrosomia, longer labor duration, labor induction and failed induction risk, emergency cesarean delivery (CD), and perinatal mortality. However, it is difficult to isolate BMI as an independent risk factor because of its correlation with other risk factors and bias that may lead to earlier diagnosis and intervention. This study aimed to control variables such as age, parity, labor onset, and birth weight, and only focus on the relationship between class III obesity with labor progression and management in a retrospective matched cohort study with the primary outcome measured being the relationship between obesity and the rate of CD. The authors also aimed to define the impact of maternal obesity with obstetric intervention timing and extent and other methods of delivery.