Sonographic Assessment Of The Effect Of Parity On Fetal Well-Being In Singleton Pregnancies; Experience In University Of Calabar Teaching Hospital.

Abstract

Background
Adverse pregnancy and perinatal outcomes are still very high in developing countries. Parity is considered an important influence on the health outcome of the fetus and mother during subsequent pregnancies. This study was aimed at determining the association between parity and feto-maternal ~ wellbeing among singleton pregnant women.

Methods
This prospective cross-sectional study included 100 singleton pregnant women below 40 years of age with between 20 to 40 weeks gestation. It was conducted at the Radiology Department of the
University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar from March 2021 to June 2021. Obstetric ultrasound procedure was done on all the pregnant women. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 statistical package.

Result
There was a significant positive correlation between parity and estimated fetal weight (P = 0.036). Increase in the maternal parity was associated with a proportional increase in the mean estimated fetal weight and this successive increment was statistically significant (P =0.024). Maternal age had a significant positive correlation with parity (P = 0.000). The maternal diastolic blood pressure increased marginally as parity increased but it was not statistically significant (P =0.318).

Conclusion
The study provides evidence that increasing parity is strongly associated with an increase in the fetal weight of the subsequent pregnancy and also increases the likelihood of macrosomia especially when the maternal age increases.