<![CDATA[Birth weight is an important indicator of neonatal health and is associated with subsequent child growth and health outcomes. Three maternal factors, namely body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin levels, and maternal educational attainment, have been extensively studied in relation to birth weight; however, findings across populations remain inconsistent. This non-systematic narrative review searched PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and GARUDA for publications from 2021 to 2026 (searches conducted through September 2026), using three separate search groups addressing maternal BMI, hemoglobin levels, and education in relation to birth weight. Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria, including four studies conducted in Indonesia. The findings showed that seven studies on BMI reported associations with birth weight or related growth and birth outcomes, although the direction and outcomes assessed varied considerably. Seven studies examining hemoglobin levels demonstrated heterogeneous patterns of association, with some studies reporting non-linear relationships between hemoglobin levels and birth weight outcomes, while others identified associations only at the anemia end of the spectrum. Six studies on maternal education showed the greatest inconsistency: four reported significant associations with growth or neonatal outcomes, whereas two found no significant association. In conclusion, maternal BMI and hemoglobin levels were associated with birth weight or related growth outcomes, although the underlying mechanisms could not be established with certainty based on the reviewed evidence. Maternal education demonstrated the most heterogeneous pattern, with variations in findings across different populations and social contexts. Not all reviewed studies specifically examined term infants.]]>
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