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Effects of atypical patterns of fetal growth on newborn (NBAS) behavior
Insights
Newborn infants with atypical fetal growth patterns exhibited lower scores on behavioral assessments compared to appropriately growing infants. This suggests fetal growth impacts neonatal behavior, potentially indicating nutritional insults.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal development
- Pediatric nutrition
- Behavioral pediatrics
Background:
- Fetal growth patterns can influence infant development.
- The Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) assesses newborn behavior.
- Socioeconomic status and maternal age may affect fetal growth and neonatal outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the neonatal behavior of infants with atypical fetal growth to those with appropriate growth.
- To evaluate the utility of supplementary NBAS items in assessing behavioral differences.
- To explore the relationship between fetal growth indices and neonatal behavior.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of infants with atypical vs. appropriate fetal growth using NBAS and supplementary items.
- Inclusion of lower-socioeconomic-status families and teenage mothers in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- Statistical control for gestational age and ponderal index to isolate effects.
Main Results:
- Infants with atypical fetal growth scored lower on NBAS orientation, motor, and reflex clusters.
- 15 out of 18 supplementary scores were lower in the atypical growth group.
- Gestational age and ponderal index had independent effects on specific behavioral items and autonomic function.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal behavior is associated with various fetal growth patterns, potentially reflecting nutritional insults.
- Supplementary NBAS items aid in understanding group differences but not in improving overall discriminability.
- Fetal growth assessment provides insights into early developmental trajectories and potential interventions.
Abstract:
Newborn infants who showed anthropometric signs of atypical patterns of fetal growth were compared with infants of appropriate growth on the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) and on recently developed supplementary items. The sample consisted of lower-socioeconomic-status families in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and included teenage and older mothers. Infants with atypical patterns of fetal growth showed lower scores than did infants of appropriate growth on the NBAS orientation, motor, and reflex clusters and on 15 of the 18 supplementary scores. Gestational age was covaried and showed independent effects on 6 items. Differential effects on measures of state and autonomic function were also found when the effects of the ponderal index were held constant. The results suggested that neonatal behavior is related to multiple indices of fetal growth patterns that may indicate early versus late nutritional insult. Supplementary NBAS items do not improve the discriminability of the NBAS but may help explain the basis for observed group differences.