(1) Background: An abnormal 50 g glucose challenge test (50 g GCT) during pregnancy, even without a diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), may result in undesirable obstetric and neonatal outcomes. This study sought to evaluate the outcomes in pregnant women with abnormal 50 g GCT in secondary care hospitals in Thailand. (2) Methods: A total of 1129 cases of pregnant women with abnormal 50 g GCT results who delivered between January 2018 and December 2020 at Thasala, Sichon, and Thungsong hospitals were retrospectively reviewed and divided into three groups: abnormal 50 g GCT and normal 100 g oral OGTT (Group 1; n = 397 cases), abnormal 50 g GCT and one abnormal 100 g OGTT value (Group 2; n = 452 cases), and GDM (Group 3; n = 307 cases). (3) Results: Cesarean section rates in group 3 (61.9%) were statistically higher than those in groups 1 (43.6%) and 2 (49.4%) (p < 0.001). In addition, the highest rate of birth asphyxia was found in group 2 (5.9%), which was significantly higher than that in Groups 1 (1.8%) and 3 (3.3%) (p = 0.007). (4) Conclusions: Pregnant women with abnormal 50 g GCTs without a diagnosis of GDM had undesirable maternal and neonatal outcomes, as well as those who had GDM, suggesting that healthcare providers should closely monitor them throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period.

This retrospective study examined the associations between pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), gestational weight gain (GWG), and perinatal outcomes among women with singleton pregnancies delivering at a general hospital in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand. Secondary data were retrieved from the HosXP electronic medical database and delivery records. Of 4659 eligible delivery records, 4051 women met the study criteria and were included in the analysis. Multivariable binary logistic regression models were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The incidences of preterm birth, small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants, and below-optimal head circumference (HC) were 6.99%, 18.22%, and 42.85%, respectively. Maternal underweight before pregnancy was significantly associated with increased odds of preterm birth (aOR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.21–2.12), SGA (aOR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.44–2.24), and below-optimal HC (aOR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.18–1.76). Inadequate GWG was also associated with higher odds of SGA (aOR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.38–2.00) and below-optimal HC (aOR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.11–1.49). Conversely, maternal overweight/obesity and excessive GWG were associated with lower odds of SGA and below-optimal HC. These findings indicate that pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG were independently associated with adverse perinatal outcomes among Thai women with singleton pregnancies and may provide context-specific evidence to support maternal nutritional assessment and gestational weight monitoring during antenatal care.

Adverse neonatal outcomes and risk factors associated with an abnormal 50-gram glucose challenge test (GCT) in pregnant women without a diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are not well described. We sought to examine the prevalence and associated risk factors for adverse neonatal outcomes among such a cohort in southern Thailand. We retrospectively collected data from three community hospitals in southern Thailand on pregnant women who delivered between January 2018 and December 2020 with abnormal 50-g GCT and normal 100-g OGT between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation. Obstetric outcome parameters and associated risk factors were collected from review of 822 patients medical records. Risk variables associated with adverse outcomes were investigated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Of maternal outcomes, the results showed that cesarean delivery was highly prevalent (46%), followed by postpartum hemorrhage (4.9%), and shoulder dystocia (3.8%). The three most prevalent neonatal outcomes were large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infants (33.8%), neonatal hypoglycemia (33.2%), and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (32.7%). The results of logistic regression analysis indicated that significant risks for LGA were pre-pregnancy body mass index >25 kg/m² (adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 1.83; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.30-2.56) and total weight gain greater than the recommendation (AOR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.11-2.14); significant risks for neonatal hypoglycemia were advanced maternal age (AOR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.17-3.60), operative delivery (AOR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.37-3.34), and neonatal RDS (AOR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.12-3.03). Significant risks for neonatal RDS were total weight gain more than recommended (AOR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.05-2.04) and preterm birth (AOR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.07-3.36). Closer surveillance is needed for pregnant women with an abnormal 50-g GCT but without a diagnosis of GDM, particularly those with identified risk factors, due to the higher risk of adverse neonatal outcomes including hypoglycemia, LGA, and RDS.

Maternal anemia during pregnancy may adversely affect fetal growth, including neonatal head circumference (HC). This retrospective cohort study aimed to identify predictors of small HC among infants born to women with third-trimester anemia. Secondary data were obtained from the HosXP electronic medical database and delivery records of pregnant women who delivered between October 2020 and September 2023. A total of 934 women met the eligibility criteria and were included in the analysis. Maternal characteristics were summarized using descriptive statistics. Associations between maternal factors and neonatal HC were examined using the Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test or Mann–Whitney U test, and independent predictors were identified using binary logistic regression analysis. The mean neonatal HC was 32.76 ± 1.50 cm, and 43.90% of infants were classified as having a small HC. Gravidity, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), and gestational weight gain (GWG) were significantly associated with neonatal HC. Multivariable analysis revealed that women with two pregnancies (aOR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.352–0.734) and those with three or more pregnancies (aOR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.373–0.773) had lower odds of delivering infants with small HC than primigravida women. Pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity was associated with lower odds of small HC (aOR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.426–0.805), whereas inadequate GWG increased the likelihood of this outcome (aOR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.010–1.894). Maternal gravidity, pre-pregnancy BMI, and GWG may influence neonatal HC. These findings may support nurses in identifying women at risk, monitoring GWG, and providing targeted nutritional counseling during antenatal care.