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The influence of prolonged pregnancy on infant development at one and two years of age: a prospective controlled
Insights
Infants born after prolonged pregnancies (over 294 days) showed no significant differences in development or health compared to those born at normal term. This prospective study followed infants up to two years of age.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal medicine
- Developmental pediatrics
- Neonatology
Background:
- Prolonged pregnancies (gestation exceeding 294 days) have been anecdotally linked to developmental issues.
- Previous reports suggest potential adverse outcomes for infants born post-term.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively compare the developmental outcomes of infants born after prolonged pregnancies versus normal term gestations.
- To assess physical condition, growth, hospitalizations, and mental development at 1 and 2 years of age.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study comparing infants from prolonged pregnancies (n=89 at 1 year, n=76 at 2 years) with term controls (n=130 at 1 year, n=111 at 2 years).
- Infants were subgrouped by physical condition at birth (normal or dysmature).
- Assessments included physical growth (height, weight), hospitalization records, and mental development using Griffiths Mental Development Scales.
Main Results:
- At both 1 and 2 years of age, no significant differences were observed in general intelligence quotient between infants born after prolonged pregnancies and term controls.
- Physical milestones and the incidence of intercurrent illnesses were also comparable between the two groups.
- Subgroup analysis based on physical condition at birth did not reveal significant outcome disparities.
Conclusions:
- Prolonged pregnancy (over 294 days) does not appear to be associated with adverse developmental or health outcomes at 1 and 2 years of age.
- The findings suggest that infants born after prolonged gestations, when assessed prospectively, fare similarly to those born at term.
- Further research may explore long-term outcomes beyond two years of age.
Abstract:
Isolated reports of developmental disturbances following prolonged pregnancy led us to compare, prospectively, at 1 and 2 years of age, infants born after normal term gestations with those born after prolonged pregnancies (exceeding 294 days). The infants were subgrouped according to their physical condition at birth, that is, normal or dysmature (mild or advanced dysmaturity). Infant assessments included: (1) height and weight, (2) hospitalizations, and (3) mental development by the Griffiths Mental Development Scales. Follow-up testing was obtained on 130 term control infants and 89 infants of prolonged pregnancies at 1 year of age and 111 term control infants and 76 infants of prolonged pregnancies at 2 years of age. At 1 and 2 years the general intelligence quotient, physical milestones, and intercurrent illnesses for normal infants and those of prolonged pregnancies were not significantly different.