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Updated: Sep 26, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
[Correlation of birthweight and the prediction of fetal and neonatal status]
1Kliniki Perinatologii AM im. Karola Marcinkowskiego w Poznaniu.
Objective:
Quantitative evaluation of direct neonatal risk for small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses.
Design:
Retrospective analysis of perinatal data base.
Materials And Methods:
Six thousand one hundred twenty four pregnant women undergoing labor at term were enrolled to a study. Standard deviation scores (Z) of birthweight adjusted to the age were calculated. Receiver-operator characteristic were constructed for Z scores in prediction of obstetrical outcome.
Results:
Birthweight Z score < -1.2 was statistically related to higher occurrence of neonatal depression. Incidence of significant neonatal arterial acidemia (pH < 7.10) was dependent on birthweight Z score in wide range, even among appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) ones. Adjusted birthweight had the high predictive value for extremely deep neonatal disturbances.
Conclusions:
Classic criterion of SGA fetal weight (10%), as an index of increased perinatal risk, is statistically and biologically proper. Some cases of intrauterine growth restriction, related to insufficient feto-maternal exchange, probably does not lead to SGA birthweight presence. Adjusted birthweight is clinically usefull for limited number of patients.
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