Aims: This longitudinal study was conducted with the objective to understand the influence of maternal nutritional status during pregnancy on birth outcome and growth during infancy. 
Method: A total of 178 pregnant women during their third trimester were recruited from an urban slum of West Delhi. Nutritional assessment of pregnant women was made through anthropometric, biochemical, clinical and dietary methods. Nutritional assessment of infants using anthropometric measurements was made at birth and quarterly upto one year of age.
 Results: Results reported that 19.4% pregnant women had height <145 cm, 19.4% had weight less than 45 kg and 50.3% had MUAC <23 cm. Prevalence of anemia, ferritin deficiency and B12 deficiency was 71.5%, 65.8% and 68.5% respectively. Overall 30.9% pregnant women had deficient levels for serum retinol and 36.4% had zinc deficiency. The median urinary iodine concentration was 132.5µg/L and 59.9% pregnant women had iodine deficiency. Median nutrient intake was found lower than RDA. Prevalence of low birth weight (<2500g) was 25.6% and mean birth weight was 2708g +420.5. Prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight of infants was 15%, 24.8% and 19.5% at birth and 20.2%, 26.6% and 30.9% respectively at one year of age. Maternal anthropometric measurements (weight, height and MUAC) were found positively correlated with birth weight (p<0.01). Weight of infants at 12 months increased significantly with increase in maternal weight (p <0.05). 
Conclusion: Maternal nutritional status was found significantly correlated with nutritional status of infants and prevalence of under nutrition among infants at birth and one year of age.

NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF PREGNANT WOMEN AND ITS RELATION WITH BIRTH WEIGHT AND GROWTH OF INFANTS DURING FIRST YEAR OF LIFE IN SLUM POPULATION OF DELHI