Offspring birth weight in second-generation 'small for gestational age' infants

To quantify the intergenerational effects on intrauterine growth in pregnant women who were themselves small for gestational age (SGA) at birth.

A retrospective case control was carried out on infants born in the period 1 January 2009 to 31 March 2009 at the Sant'Orsola Hospital, Bologna. Out of 958 infants, 707 met the criteria for inclusion in the study.

After calculation of the percentiles stratified for gestational age at delivery, 68 cases were classified as SGA. Logistic regression analysis was used as the multivariable tool for calculating the bearing of each covariable on the outcome (SGA), including smoking and the presence of an SGA in previous pregnancies. A total of 28.6% of the infants of SGA women were SGA compared with 8.6% of the children of non-SGA women (p-value < 0.01). The multivariable odds ratio was 2.61 (95% CI = 1.16-5.86) for women who were SGA to have SGA children. The extra risk of being SGA in the actual pregnancy when the mother was SGA was estimated at about 7%.

Reduced intrauterine growth of the mother is a risk factor for reduced intrauterine growth of her children.