Gestational Weight Gain and Early Child Neurodevelopment: Prospective Cohort Study

Area of Science:

• Maternal and Child Health
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Gestational weight gain (GWG) is a critical factor influencing maternal and infant outcomes.
• Understanding the impact of GWG patterns on early childhood neurodevelopment is essential for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between gestational weight gain (GWG) z-scores and their trajectories with neurodevelopmental delays in children aged 0-24 months.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 19,702 mother-singleton child pairs in Shenzhen, China.
• Group-based trajectory modeling was used to define GWG z-score trajectories.
• Multivariable logistic regression assessed associations between GWG z-scores, trajectories, and neurodevelopmental delays using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire.

Main Results:

• Very low GWG (z-score < -1.5) was associated with increased risks of delays in communication, gross motor skills, problem-solving, and personal-social skills.
• Among overweight/obese mothers, very high GWG (z-score > 1.5) correlated with higher risks of problem-solving and personal-social skill delays.
• GWG trajectories ending at low levels were linked to higher risks of neurodevelopmental delays.

Conclusions:

• Very low GWG and trajectories ending low are associated with modestly increased risks of neurodevelopmental delays.
• Excessive GWG in mothers with overweight or obesity also poses a risk for neurodevelopmental delays in children.