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Growth increments in preterm low risk infants
1Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
Insights
Low-risk preterm infants with fetal acidosis or neurodevelopmental disorders showed different growth patterns. Early infancy growth differences may aid in managing at-risk preterm infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Pediatric Growth Studies
Background:
- Preterm infants face unique growth challenges.
- Understanding early growth velocity is crucial for identifying potential developmental issues.
- Factors like fetal acidosis and neurodevelopmental disorders can impact infant growth trajectories.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze growth velocity in low-risk, vaginally born preterm infants over four years.
- To investigate the influence of gestational age, fetal acidosis, neurodevelopmental disorders, sex, feeding, and maternal education on infant growth.
- To identify early growth indicators for at-risk preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal follow-up of 35 low-risk preterm infants for four years.
- Weekly measurements of weight, length, and head circumference.
- Statistical analysis of growth increments in relation to various influencing factors.
Main Results:
- A significant weight difference was observed between infants with and without neurodevelopmental disorders in the first 7 months.
- Infants with fetal acidosis or neurodevelopmental disorders exhibited lower initial weight and head circumference increments but higher weight increments between 3-7 months.
- Breastfed infants and males showed higher weight increments in early infancy; females showed higher length increments.
Conclusions:
- Early growth patterns in preterm infants can be influenced by fetal acidosis and neurodevelopmental status.
- Specific growth velocity changes during early infancy may serve as indicators for at-risk preterm populations.
- Maternal education and feeding methods also showed associations with infant growth increments.
Abstract:
Thirty five surviving low risk vaginally born preterm infants were followed for four years. Weekly increments for weight, length and head circumference were obtained. The implications relating to growth velocity from gestational age, fetal acidosis and neurodevelopmental disorders as well as sex, feeding habits and mothers' educational level were studied. A significant difference for weight was found between infants with and without a neurodevelopmental disorder during the first 7 months. Infants with fetal acidosis (scalp pH less than 7.2) or a neurodevelopmental disorder have lower increments for weight and head circumference during the first 3 months than infants without fetal acidosis or a neurodevelopmental disorder, but they demonstrated the highest increments for weight between 3-7 months of age. Mean growth increments were high for infants of well educated mothers, but the growth increments for infants of less educated mothers did not differ from the total preterm group. Breastfed infants between birth and 3 months of age show high increments for weight. Boys have a better mean increment for weight than girls between birth and 3 months of age. The opposite was found for length. The group differences are not significant and too small for a definite statement, but they do reveal small differences during early infancy that may prove helpful in the management of infants at risk.