Gestational Weight Gain in Twin Pregnancies and Maternal and Child Health: An Updated Systematic Review

Background: The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has provisional gestational weight gain (GWG) guidelines for women pregnant with twins due to limited data in this population. To better inform guidelines, the objective of this systematic review was to build on prior work and examine recent data on the associations of GWG with maternal and child health in twin pregnancies. Materials and Methods: In February 2021, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library were searched. Observational studies were eligible if published from January 1, 2013 through February 23, 2021, and examined associations of GWG with maternal or child health outcomes after accounting for gestational age at delivery and pre-pregnancy body mass index. Heterogeneity across studies precluded the use of meta-analytic methods. Results: A total of 29 studies were included. For maternal outcomes, excessive GWG was associated with an increased risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy; whereas studies examining gestational diabetes and delivery method reported mixed findings. For child outcomes, inadequate GWG was associated with lower birthweight, small for gestational age, and preterm birth. Adequate or excessive GWG was associated with later gestational age at delivery. Conclusions: This study advances an earlier review by including a more diverse array of maternal and child outcomes. Many of the limitations noted in the original review persist; for example, no studies examined the associations of GWG and outcomes beyond birth. Although it appears that GWG within the IOM guidelines is associated with more optimal outcomes, additional methodologically rigorous studies are needed to better inform evidence-based guidelines.