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Judging fetal growth from body proportions at birth
S Petersen1, T Larsen, G Greisen
1Department of Paediatrics, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Insights
Fetal growth velocity is linked to birth measurements, but these links vanish when accounting for gestational age. Birth weight and gestational age are key indicators of fetal growth rate.
Area of Science:
- Perinatology
- Fetal Medicine
- Neonatalogy
Background:
- Fetal growth velocity is a critical indicator of fetal well-being.
- Assessing fetal growth often relies on ultrasound estimations and birth anthropometry.
- High-risk pregnancies require accurate monitoring of fetal development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between fetal growth velocity and anthropometric measurements at birth.
- To determine if birth anthropometry provides additional information on fetal growth rate beyond gestational age and birth weight.
Main Methods:
- Calculated fetal growth velocity from 27 weeks gestation to birth in 378 high-risk infants.
- Utilized at least three ultrasound measurements for estimated fetal weight and recorded birth weight.
- Analyzed anthropometric measurements at birth (weight, head circumference, length, ponderal index, skinfolds) and their correlation with fetal growth velocity, adjusting for gestational age.
Main Results:
- Anthropometric measurements at birth showed a significant relationship with fetal growth velocity after correcting for gestational age.
- A significant correlation was observed between fetal growth velocity and ponderal index (r=0.34, P<0.001).
- These correlations disappeared when birth weight relative to gestational age was considered, indicating these factors are not independent predictors.
Conclusions:
- While anthropometric measures correlate with fetal growth velocity, they do not offer additional predictive value once birth weight and gestational age are accounted for.
- Birth weight relative to gestational age is the primary determinant for assessing fetal growth rate.
- Clinical assessment of fetal growth should prioritize accurate estimation of birth weight and gestational age.
Abstract:
Fetal growth velocity from 27 weeks until birth was calculated in 378 infants born after high risk pregnancies from at least three ultrasound measurements of estimated fetal weight and the weight at birth. Anthropometric measurements at birth (weight, head circumference, length, ponderal index and skinfolds), after correction for differences in gestational age, were significantly related to fetal growth velocity. The relation between fetal growth velocity and ponderal index was significant (correlation coefficient = 0.34, P < 0.001). However, the correlations between fetal growth velocity and each of the anthropometric measures disappeared when birth weight relative to gestational age was accounted for. This means that given the birth weight and the gestational age of a newborn infant, body proportions, e.g. ponderal index or skinfold thickness, do not contribute further to the judgment about fetal growth rate.