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To determine the body mass index (BMI) and the body composition of fathers-to-be and to compare the findings with those of mothers-to-be during early pregnancy. This was a descriptive and comparative study based at a large university teaching hospital. We enrolled men whose partner booked for antenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy during July 2009. The height and weight of both parents-to-be were measured digitally, and BMI was calculated. The body compositions of the couple were analysed using bioelectrical impedance. Of 167 fathers-to-be, 14% were obese (BMI > 29.9 kg/m) compared with 16% of mothers-to-be (NS). However, 50% were overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m) compared with 26% of mothers-to-be ( P < 0.001). This may be explained, in part, because the men were on average two years older than the women, and in the men, BMI increased with age. The men had a lower overall fat percentage ( P < 0.001), but their visceral fat was higher than in the women ( P < 0.001). Our findings show a high level of obesity in fathers-to-be, which has implications not only for the men themselves but also their families. We suggest that public health interventions directed at obesity during pregnancy should include both parents-to-be. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate whether an intensive, medically supervised exercise intervention improved maternal glycemia and gestational weight gain in obese pregnant women when compared with routine prenatal care.Methods: This randomized controlled trial compared a medically supervised exercise intervention with routine prenatal care. The primary outcome was a reduction in mean maternal fasting plasma glucose in the intervention group by 6.9 mg/dL at the time of a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test at 24-28 weeks of gestation. Secondary outcomes included excessive gestational weight gain. The intervention consisted of 50-60 minutes of exercise: warm-up, resistance or weights, aerobic exercises, and cool-down. All women received routine prenatal care. Power calculation determined that 24 women were required per group to detect a difference of 6.9 mg/dL in fasting plasma glucose between groups based on an independent-sample t test for statistical power of 80% at a type I error rate of 0.05. A sample size of 44 per group was planned to allow a dropout rate of 33%.Results: From November 2013 through August 2015, 88 women were randomized: 44 each to the exercise and control groups. Eight women in the control group and 11 in the intervention group did not complete the trial at 6 weeks postpartum (P=.61), but 43 in each group attended the 24- to 28-week glucose screen. There were no baseline maternal differences between groups. Classes commenced at a mean of 13 4/7±1 2/7 weeks of gestation. In early pregnancy, 51.1% (n=45/88) had an elevated fasting plasma glucose (92-125 mg/dL). There was no difference in the mean fasting plasma glucose at 24-28 weeks of gestation: 90.0±9.0 mg/dL (n=43) compared with 93.6±7.2 mg/dL (n=43) (P=.13) or in the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus at 24-28 weeks of gestation: 48.8% (n=21/43) compared with 58.1% (n=25/43) (P=.51) in the control and exercise groups, respectively. At 36 weeks of gestation, excessive gestational weight gain greater than 9.1 kg was lower in the exercise group, 23.5% compared with 45.2% in the control group (P<.05).Conclusion: An intensive, medically supervised exercise intervention for obese women from early pregnancy did not improve maternal glycemia. Pregnant women who are obese, however, should be advised to exercise because it attenuates excessive gestational weight gain.Clinical Trial Registration: International Standard Randomised Controlled Trials (ISRCTN) registry, ISRCTN 31045925. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare maternal C-reactive protein concentration in the first 18 weeks of pregnancy with the nonpregnant adult reference range.Study Design: Serum samples from healthy women with a pregnancy <18 weeks' gestation were retrieved from a Hospital biological resource bank. C-reactive protein was measured using an immunoturbidimetric assay. Clinical and sociodemographic details were retrieved from the Hospital's computerized database.Results: Of the 146 women, 85 (58.2%) were nulliparous, 11 (7.5%) were smokers and 22 (15.1%) were obese. Mean gestational age at phlebotomy was 12.5 (range 8.1-17.4) weeks. Median C-reactive protein was 3.2 (interquartile range 0.3-12.1)mg/L. There were 74 women (50.7%) with C-reactive protein level >3.0mg/L which is above the nonpregnant adult reference range. C-reactive protein levels were positively correlated with increasing Body Mass Index. No relationship was found between C-reactive protein and age, smoking or gestational age.Conclusion: C-reactive protein concentration in a well-characterized population in early pregnancy was higher than that cited for the nonpregnant adult, and C-reactive protein was positively associated with Body Mass Index. Therefore, caution is needed in the use and interpretation of C-reactive protein measurements in early pregnancy to avoid unnecessary interventions in women with suspected illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]