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Maternal and paternal height and BMI and patterns of fetal growth: the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study

Andrew K Wills1, Manoj C Chinchwadkar, Charudatta V Joglekar

  • 1MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre, University of Southampton, UK.

Early Human Development
|August 3, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Parental height and body mass index (BMI) influence fetal growth differently throughout pregnancy. Paternal height impacts fetal development earlier than maternal height, while maternal BMI affects placental growth and fetal head size.

Area of Science:

  • Maternal-fetal medicine
  • Human reproduction and development
  • Prenatal growth dynamics

Background:

  • Parental anthropometric factors, including height and body mass index (BMI), are known to influence fetal development.
  • The temporal dynamics of these parental influences on fetal growth throughout gestation are not fully understood.
  • Understanding these associations is crucial for monitoring and optimizing prenatal development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the distinct associations of maternal and paternal height and BMI with fetal growth parameters.
  • To analyze how these parental influences change over the course of gestation.
  • To explore potential implications for early placental development and subsequent fetal growth.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from 557 term pregnancies within the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study.
  • Assessed fetal growth using ultrasound and birth measurements of head circumference, abdominal circumference, and femur length.
  • Quantified placental volume at 17 weeks gestation; analyzed parental height and BMI associations with growth from 17 weeks to birth.

Main Results:

  • Parental height positively correlated with fetal head circumference and femur length, with paternal height associations appearing earlier in gestation.
  • Maternal BMI was linked to smaller fetal head circumference at 17 weeks, which normalized by birth, indicating catch-up growth.
  • Maternal BMI and paternal height showed positive associations with placental volume, while paternal BMI and maternal height did not.

Conclusions:

  • Parental height and BMI exhibit differential and time-varying associations with fetal and placental growth throughout gestation.
  • Observed opposing associations between early placental growth and fetal head size with maternal BMI suggest potential growth prioritization strategies.
  • These findings highlight the complex interplay of parental factors in shaping prenatal development, with potential long-term health implications.

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