Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 30, 2026
Non-Nutritive Suck Parameters Measurements Using a Custom Pressure Transducer System
Published on: April 19, 2024
Perinatal predictors of growth patterns to 18 months in children born small for gestational age
1Departments of Paediatrics and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand. j.harding@auckland.ac.nz
Insights
Most small for gestational age (SGA) babies achieve catch-up growth by 6 months. However, short birth length, male sex, and prolonged hospital stays may delay catch-up growth in SGA infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neonatology
- Growth and Development
Background:
- Children born small for gestational age (SGA) often experience growth challenges.
- Understanding factors influencing catch-up growth is crucial for optimizing infant development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify pre-birth or birth-related predictors of growth trajectories up to 18 months in SGA infants.
- To analyze factors associated with different patterns of catch-up growth.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study involving 186 infants born small for gestational age (SGA).
- Catch-up growth patterns were categorized: early, late, transient, and none, based on centile changes at 6 and 18 months.
- Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictive factors.
Main Results:
- 75% of SGA infants demonstrated catch-up growth by 6 months.
- Early gestation at SGA diagnosis, short birth length, increased placental weight/birthweight ratio (Pl/BW), and prolonged neonatal stay were associated with delayed or failed catch-up growth.
- Male sex and prolonged hospital stay predicted late catch-up, while increased Pl/BW indicated failed catch-up.
Conclusions:
- SGA infants with less severe growth restriction typically achieve catch-up growth by 6 months.
- Factors like short birth length, male sex, and prolonged hospitalization may indicate delayed catch-up growth.
- Increased Pl/BW might suggest an intrinsic growth defect, while transient catch-up may be influenced by postnatal environmental factors.
Aim:
To determine factors before or at birth that are predictive of growth patterns to 18 months in children born small for gestational age (SGA).
Methods:
Prospective cohort study of 186 SGA babies. Catch-up growth patterns were defined as early (>10th centile at 6 and 18 months), late (<10th centile at 6 months but >10th centile at 18 months), transient (>10th centile at 6 months but <10th centile at 18 months) or none (<10th centile at 6 and 18 months).
Results:
Most children (75%) showed catch-up growth by 6 months. Of antenatal variables studied, only early gestation at diagnosis of SGA predicted late or failed catch-up. Late or failed catch-up was also associated with short gestation, small absolute and relative size at birth, increased placental weight/birthweight ratio (Pl/BW) and prolonged neonatal hospital stay. On logistic regression, both late and failed catch-up were associated with short birth length. Late catch-up growth was also associated with prolonged hospital stay and male sex. Failed catch-up was associated with increased Pl/BW. No antenatal or perinatal variables distinguished early from transient catch-up groups.
Conclusion:
SGA babies with late onset and less severe growth restriction have a good chance of catch-up growth by 6 months of age. Catch-up growth is likely to be delayed in SGA babies who are short at birth, are boys, and have prolonged hospital stays. However, poor growth over the first 6 months does not predict later growth patterns. Failure of catch-up growth in babies with increased Pl/BW may reflect an intrinsic growth defect. Transient catch-up growth may reflect environmental factors operating after birth.
Related Concept Videos
01:10Nature and Nurture
01:52Regression Toward the Mean