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Postnatal Growth Patterns and Deviations in Singleton and Twin Infants: A Prospective Cohort Study on Infants

Yannan Wan1, Ting Pan1,2, Zhanzhan Zhang1

  • 1Growth, Development and Mental Health Center of Children and Adolescents Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Neurodevelopment and Cognitive Disorders National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University Chongqing China.

Pediatric Discovery
|January 1, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Small for gestational age (SGA) infants show rapid catch-up growth (CUG) in weight and head circumference within six months. Twin SGA infants have distinct growth patterns, requiring longer monitoring for optimal outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Pediatric Growth and Development
  • Perinatal Medicine

Background:

  • Infants born small for gestational age (SGA) and twin infants face elevated risks for growth deviations.
  • Postnatal catch-up growth (CUG) patterns in singleton vs. twin, and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) vs. SGA infants are not well-defined.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate postnatal growth trajectories and physical growth deviations in singleton and twin AGA and SGA infants during the first year of life.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study involving 340 infants.
  • Analysis of growth trajectories and physical growth deviations in singleton and twin AGA and SGA infants.

Main Results:

  • SGA infants demonstrated rapid CUG in weight and head circumference by 6 months; length catch-up took longer.
  • Twin SGA infants showed faster weight CUG but slower length CUG than singleton SGA infants.
  • Male SGA twins exhibited lower length z-scores compared to singleton SGA infants, indicating gender-specific differences.

Conclusions:

  • The mechanisms of SGA are more complex in twins than singletons.
  • Twin SGA infants necessitate extended growth monitoring and regular follow-up to optimize growth and reduce long-term risks.
  • This study provides a basis for future research into factors influencing SGA infant growth.

Keywords:
appropriate for gestational agecatch‐up growthphysical growth deviationsmall for gestational agetwins

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