Table 2.
Summary of papers included: maternal anthropometric status
| Authors (year) | Location | Study design | n | BI or IPI | BI/IPI categories | Outcomes assessed | Control for confounders | Findings | Quality score (1–4) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farahati et al. (1993) | USA | P‐Coh (3 consecutive pregnancies) | 47 | IPI | ≤12; >12 months; continuous | Pregravid weight for subsequent pregnancy | Maternal age, pre‐pregnancy weight, gestational age. (smokers excluded) | IPI not associated with subsequent pregravid weight | 2 |
| Greene et al. (1988) | USA (1959−65) | P‐Coh | 7 116 | IPI | Continuous | Interpregnancy weight change. Women reported pre‐pregnancy weight at time of enrolment | Maternal age, parity, race, smoking, US Bureau of Census Socioeconomic Index, breastfeeding (yes/no), pre‐pregnancy weight, delivery complications, week gestation at enrolment | IPI positively associated with interpregnancy weight change | 4 |
| Herman & Yu (1997) | USA | P‐Coh | 43 160 | IPI | Continuous | Obesity (pre‐pregnancy BMI > 26 and >29). Height measured and weight reported at first prenatal visit | Maternal age, education, race, marital status, smoking, initial BMI, weight gain between pregnancies. Parity 1 & 2 only | Longer IPI associated with obesity (non‐linear relationship) | 2 |
| Khan et al. (1998) | Pakistan | R‐Coh | 278 | IPI | Continuous | Change in weight and BMI between 1st and 2nd pregnancy. Weight measured during first prenatal visit (6–7 weeks) | Maternal age, parity, initial weight or BMI | IPI positively associated with change in weight and BMI between 1st and 2nd pregnancies | 2 |
| Merchant et al. (1990) | Guatemala | P‐Coh | 504 in paper 1; 102 in paper 2 (women with 2 consecutive pregnancies) | Recup. interval | None (overlap of BF and pregnancy) vs. short (≤6 months NPNL) vs. long (>6 months NPNL) | Thigh fatfold measurements taken at 3‐month intervals during pregnancy and lactation | Maternal age, parity. (NR: energy supplementation, height, gestational age) | Paper 1: Longer recup. interval positively associated with thigh fatfold. Paper 2: Longer recup. interval associated with greater thigh fatfold during 1st and 2nd trimesters, but not during 3rd trimester or postpartum | 1 for Paper 1; 2 for Paper 2 |
| Miller & Huss‐Ashmore (1989) | Lesotho | CS | 873 | BI | <12; 12–17; 18–23; 24–35; ≥36 months | BMI, triceps skinfold, arm muscle area | Maternal age, parity. (All were classified as ‘poor’ or low SES) | BI not associated with BMI or triceps skinfold. Arm muscle area lower when BI 12–17 months compared with BI < 12 months | 2 |
| Pebley & DaVanzo (1993) | Guatemala | P‐Coh | 227–262 | IPI; Recup. interval | IPI: <9; 9–14; ≥15 months Recup. interval: None (overlap of BF and pregnancy) vs. 0–3 months NPNL vs. >3 months NPNL | Preconception weight for height, pregnancy weight gain. Weight measured within 3 months prior to conception, and during 1st and 3rd trimesters | Maternal age, education, parity, energy supplementation, breastfeeding duration | IPI negatively associated with preconception weight for height, but not associated with pregnancy weight gain. Recup. interval not associated with preconception weight for height, but positively associated with pregnancy weight gain | 3 |
| Winkvist et al. (1994) | Pakistan | P‐Coh | 76 | Recup. interval | Duration of NPNL interval between pregnancies; duration of overlap of BF and pregnancy | Weight at 1 month postpartum, weight change between 2 consecutive pregnancies | Parity, initial weight, gestational age. (NR: maternal age, smoking, infant sex) | Increased reproductive stress (greater BF duration or overlap of BF and pregnancy) associated with increased weight gain between pregnancies | 2 |
BF, breastfeeding; BI, birth interval; BMI, body mass index; CS, cross‐sectional; IPI, interpregnancy interval; NPNL, non‐pregnant, non‐lactating; NR, not relevant (not a confounder); P‐Coh, prospective cohort; Recup. interval, recuperative interval (duration of NPNL interval); SES, socio‐economic status.