A prospective study on some factors which influence the delivery of large babies.

Data on a total of 492 randomly selected women who delivered at term (37-41 weeks) singleton babies in the facilities are analysed. These mothers had been followed up regularly from the booking clinic till delivery of their babies. There were 51 (10.4%) large babies with birth weight > or = 3800 g. Of these, 30 were males and 21 were females. The mean weight of the males, 4005 +/- 0.188 g, was significantly higher than that for females, 3978 +/- 0.197 g. There was a significantly increased risk of Caesarean section in the large babies compared with the controls with birth weight < 3800 g born in the same period. There was a maternal death during the delivery of one of the large babies by Caesarean section. The mean total maternal weight gained for birth weight 3800-4000 g was 14.33 +/- 3.82 kg and for babies weighing over 4000 g was 20.36 +/- 2.6 kg, significantly higher than the controls (P < 0.001). Maternal weight gain, maternal height, season of delivery and maternal ponderal index at delivery were significantly related to the birth of large babies (P < 0.001). Parity was also significantly related (P < 0.01). Maternal education and socio-economic class were not (P > 0.5). No diabetic mother was included in the analysis.