Maternal obesity has been associated with pregnancy-related complications and neonatal morbidities. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate early neonatal morbidities associated with maternal obesity from the infant-mother dyad data set at a single, large Regional Perinatal Center (RPC) in NY. A retrospective chart review of all mother-infant dyads born from January 2009 to December 2019 was done. Maternal obesity was defined using the NIH definition of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 Kg/m2. Maternal data included pre-pregnancy BMI, gestational diabetes, hypertension, and mode of delivery. Neonatal data recorded the birth weight, gestational age, respiratory support after delivery, diagnosis of transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), neonatal hypoglycemia (NH), and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Diagnosis of TTN, RDS, NH, and HIE was defined by the service neonatologist and cross-checked by the data system review neonatologist. Medical records of 22,198 infant-mother dyads included in the study had 7,200 infants (32.4%) born to obese mothers and 14,998 infants (67.6%) born to non-obese women. There was a statistically significant increase in the diagnosis of gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, and cesarean deliveries in obese mothers. Diagnosis of TTN, RDS, and NH was significantly higher in infants born to obese mothers, while HIE incidence was similar in both the groups. Infants born to obese mothers are more likely to be delivered by cesarean section and are at a higher risk of diagnosis of transient tachypnea of newborn, respiratory distress syndrome, and hypoglycemia in the early neonatal period.
Obesity rates in women of childbearing age is now at 29%, according to recent CDC reports. It is known that obesity is associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, including disruptions in cellular function and cytokine levels. In pregnant women who are obese, associated placental dysfunction can lead to small for gestational age (SGA) infants. More frequently, however, maternal obesity is associated with large for gestational age (LGA) newborns, who also have higher incidence of metabolic disease and asthma due to elevated levels of inflammation. In addition, anthropogenic environmental exposures to “endocrine disrupting” and “forever” chemicals affect obesity, as well as maternal physiology, the placenta, and fetal development. Placental function is intimately associated with the control of inflammation during pregnancy. There is a large amount of literature examining the relationship of placental immunology, both cellular and humoral, with pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. Cells such as placental macrophages and NK cells have been implicated in spontaneous miscarriage, preeclampsia, preterm birth, perinatal neuroinflammation, and other post-natal conditions. Differing levels of placental cytokines and molecular inflammatory mediators also have known associations with preeclampsia and developmental outcomes. In this review, we will specifically examine the literature regarding maternal, placental, and fetal immunology and how it is altered by maternal obesity and environmental chemicals. We will additionally describe the relationship between placental immune function and clinical outcomes, including neonatal conditions, autoimmune disease, allergies, immunodeficiency, metabolic and endocrine conditions, neurodevelopment, and psychiatric disorders.