Relation between birth weight and placenta weight

With the goal to establish a model that relates birth weight to placenta weight, adjusted for the most documented predictors of birth weight, 300 live newborns were studied, all were products of single gestation. Inclusion criteria were newborns with gestational age of 37 weeks or older according to the date of last menstruation, whose mothers did not have diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, or eclampsia. The weight of the newborn was identified from the anthropometry data collected by previously trained nursing personnel in each of the participating hospitals. Immediately after delivery, the placenta was weighed. Multiple linear regression was used to see the effect of placenta weight and each variable on birth weight. The mean of birth weight was 3,369 g with a standard deviation (SD) of 445 g. Placenta weight had a mean of 537 g (SD: 96 g). The relation between the weight of the placenta and the birth weight was significant, and we found that for each gram increase in placenta weight, birth weight is increased by 1.98 g (SE = 0.25, p < 0.01) and this relation is not linear, since the quadratic term is significant. Placenta weight has a nonlinear relation to the birth weight and is an important predictor of birth weight. Together with the gestational age and the maternal age and size, it explains 32% of the variability of birth weight. Placenta weight can be a 'sentinel' indicator of nutritional and/or environmental problems.     

The effect of maternal height on birth weight and birth length

This retrospective study examined the gestational age at which differences were observed between birth weights and birth lengths of infants whose mothers differed by height. Infants whose gestational ages were between 24 and 42 weeks born to women 59-62 inches (150-157 cm) tall were compared to similar infants born to women 66-69 inches (168-175 cm) tall. Significant differences occurred in birth weight and birth length from 35 weeks onward. The infants of the shorter women were symmetrically smaller than the infants of the taller women as the infant ponderal indexes did not differ.     

孕前双亲体重指数、母孕期体重增值及其交互作用对新生儿出生体重的影响

目的 探讨孕前双亲体重指数（BMI）和母孕期体重增值及其交互作用对新生儿出生体重的影响。方法 选取2017年1月至2018年10月在西安交通大学第一附属医院做定期产检并足月单胎分娩的孕妇1 127例,收集其孕前BMI、孕期体重增值、孕前丈夫BMI、新生儿出生体重等信息,分析新生儿出生体重与孕前父母BMI和母亲孕期体重增值之间的相关性及两变量间的交互作用。结果 1 127例足月新生儿中,低出生体重检出25例（2.22%）,巨大儿检出43例（3.82%）。低出生体重儿、正常体重儿、巨大儿三组双亲孕前BMI值、母亲孕期体重增值的比较差异均有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。新生儿出生体重与孕前双亲BMI值、母亲孕期体重增值呈低度正相关（r=0.097~0.322,P < 0.05）;母亲孕前低体重可增加低出生体重儿的发生风险（RR=4.17,95% CI：1.86~9.38）;母亲孕前超重/肥胖、孕期体重增值超标可增加巨大儿的发生风险（分别RR=3.59,95% CI：1.93~6.67;RR=3.21,95% CI：1.39~7.37）。未发现母亲孕前BMI与孕期体重增值对新生儿出生体重的交互作用。结论 孕前双亲BMI和母亲孕期体重增值与新生儿出生体重有关,而母亲孕前BMI和孕期体重增值之间无交互作用。     

Associations between maternal scaffolding and executive functioning in 3 and 4 year olds born very low birth weight and normal birth weight

Background

Deficits in executive function, including measures of working memory, inhibition and cognitive flexibility, have been documented in preschoolers born very low birth weight (VLBW) compared with preschoolers born normal birth weight (NBW). Maternal verbal scaffolding has been associated with positive outcomes for both at-risk and typically developing preschoolers.

Aims

The purpose of this study was to examine associations between maternal verbal scaffolding, Verbal IQ (VIQ) and executive function measures in preschoolers born VLBW.

Subjects

A total of 64 VLBW and 40 NBW preschoolers ranging in age from 3 ½ to 4 years participated in the study.

Outcome measures

VIQ was measured with the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence — Third Edition. Executive function tests included the Bear Dragon, Gift Delay Peek, Reverse Categorization and Dimensional Change Card Sort-Separated Dimensions.

Study design

Maternal verbal scaffolding was coded during a videotaped play session. Associations between maternal verbal scaffolding and preschoolers' measures of VIQ and executive function were compared. Covariates included test age, maternal education, and gender.

Results

Preschoolers born VLBW performed significantly worse on VIQ and all executive function measures compared to those born NBW. Maternal verbal scaffolding was associated with VIQ for VLBW preschoolers and Gift Delay Peek for the NBW group. Girls born VLBW outperformed boys born VLBW on VIQ and Bear Dragon.

Conclusion

Integrating scaffolding skills training as part of parent-focused intervention may be both feasible and valuable for early verbal reasoning and EF development.     

Relation of arterial stiffness with gestational age and birth weight

Background: The cardiovascular risk of individuals who are born small as a result of prematurity remains controversial. Given the previous findings of stiffer peripheral conduit arteries in growth restricted donor twins in twin–twin transfusion syndrome regardless of gestational age, we hypothesised that among children born preterm, only those with intrauterine growth retardation are predisposed to an increase in cardiovascular risks. Aim: To compare brachioradial arterial stiffness and systemic blood pressure (BP) among children born preterm and small for gestational age (group 1, n = 15), those born preterm but having birth weight appropriate for gestational age (group 2, n = 36), and those born at term with birth weight appropriate for gestational age (group 3, n = 35). Methods: Systemic BP was measured by an automated device (Dinamap), while stiffness of the brachioradial arterial segment was assessed by measuring pulse wave velocity (PWV). The birth weight was adjusted for gestational age and expressed as a z score for analysis. Results: The 86 children were studied at a mean (SD) age of 8.2 (1.7) years. Subjects from group 1, who were born at 32.3 (2.0) weeks'' gestation had a significantly lower z score of birth weight (-2.29 (0.63), p<0.001), compared with those from groups 2 and 3. They had a significantly higher mean blood pressure (p<0.001) and their diastolic blood pressure also tended to be higher (p = 0.07). Likewise, their brachioradial PWV, and hence arterial stiffness, was the highest of the three groups (p<0.001). While subjects from group 2 were similarly born preterm, their PWV was not significantly different from that of group 3 subjects (p = 1.00) and likewise their z score of birth weight did not differ (-0.01 (0.71) v -0.04 (1.1), p = 1.00). Brachioradial PWV correlated significantly with systolic (r = 0.31, p = 0.004), diastolic (r = 0.38, p<0.001), and mean (0.47, p<0.001) BP, and with z score of birth weight (r = -0.43, p<0.001). Multiple linear regression identified mean BP and z score of birth weight as significant determinants of PWV. Conclusion: The findings of the present study support the hypothesis that among children born preterm, only those with intrauterine growth retardation are disadvantaged as a result of increase in systemic arterial stiffness and mean blood pressure.     

Relation of birth spacing with birth weight, morbidity and mortality of the newborn

A total of 410 women delivering in the U.I.S.E. Maternity Hospital in Kanpur, India, were included in a study to determine the relation of birth interval with birth weight and infant morbidity and mortality. 66.7% of the sample group had a birth spacing of less than 2 1/2 years, 25.1% between 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 years, and 8.2% above 3 1/2 years. As birth interval increased, so did mean birth weight; mean birth weight was lowest (2150 gm) when spacing was less than 1 year and exhibited an upward trend up to 3 1/2 years. 60.8% of the infants delivered at a birth interval of less than 1 year weighed less than 2000 gm compared with 11.3% of the infants born at birth interval of 3-3 1/2 years. The highest percentages of infant morbidity (52.1%) and mortality (13.1%) were found when birth spacing was less than 1 year; both rates were considerably reduced (20.5% and 2.2%, respectively) when birth spacing was 2 1/2-3 1/2 years. Birth spacing is closely related to effective family planning, and its practice may yield substantial child health benefits.     

Relation of birth spacing with birth weight,morbidity and mortality of the Newborn

Conclusion The present study showed that two-thirds of the babies were born at birth spacing interval of less than 2 1/2 years. The mean birth weight of the infants showed a rise till a birth interval of 3 1/2 years. There was a lower incidence of low birth weight infants as birth spacing increased up to 3 1/2 years. The morbidity and mortality were considerably lower when birth spacing was two- and-a-half to three-and-a-half years.     

新生儿低出生体质量与成年期动脉粥样硬化

新生儿低出生体质量是发生成年期代谢综合征的高危因素.近年来研究表明,有低出生体质量史的人群动脉粥样硬化发病率较高,但其具体的代谢调控机制尚不完全清楚.目前关于低出生体质量致成年期动脉粥样硬化的发病机制中发育性起源学说占有重要地位,另外血管内皮细胞功能障碍可能也是其重要发病机制之一.该文从低出生体质量与成年期动脉粥样硬化的高危因素及致病机制方面加以综述.     

Relationship between maternal weight gain and birthweight

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of gestational weight gain on birthweight of the newborn, in order to clarify if this weight increment results in heavier newborn. METHODS: Retrospective cohort in a tertiary level private institution that attends a high income population of S?o Paulo - Brazil; inclusion of all the mother-newborn pairs with complete data (2275) in the Cadastro de Informa??es Perinatais (CIP) in the software EPI 6; from February/95 till June/96.RESULTS: Gestational weight gain between 12 and 20 kg resulted in a greater number of newborn with birthweights between 3000 and 3499g. Pregnancies with a weight gain below or equal 10 kg correlated with newborn of low birthweight (Odds ratio= 1.81; CI= 1.20-2.73; 95% of significance). Gestational gain beneath or equal to 12 kg had a greater risk of a newborn with insufficient weight - 2499< birthweight < 3000g - (Odds ratio= 1.47; CI= 1.19-1.81; 95% of significance). Gestational gain above 16 kg did not correlate with increase in birthweight.CONCLUSIONS: The gestational weight gain of 12 kg is the minimum increase of weight in order that the newborn is over 3000g. The gestational weight gain above 16 kg did not increase birthweight. The high social economic level was not sufficient to avoid low birthweight or insufficient weight at birth.     

Decrease in birth weight in relation to maternal bone-lead burden

OBJECTIVES: Birth weight predicts infant survival, growth, and development. Previous research suggests that low levels of fetal lead exposure, as estimated by umbilical cord blood-lead levels at birth, may have an adverse effect on birth weight. This report examines the relationship of lead levels in cord blood and maternal bone to birth weight. METHODS: Umbilical cord and maternal venous blood samples and anthropometric and sociodemographic data were obtained at delivery and 1-month postpartum. Blood-lead levels were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Maternal tibia and patella lead levels were determined at 1-month postpartum with use of a spot-source 109Cd K-X-ray fluorescence instrument. The relationship between birth weight and lead burden was evaluated by multiple regression with control of known determinants of size at birth. RESULTS: Data on all variables of interest were obtained for 272 mother-infant pairs. After adjustment for other determinants of birth weight, tibia lead was the only lead biomarker clearly related to birth weight. The decline in birth weight associated to increments in tibia lead was nonlinear and accelerated at the highest tibia lead quartile. In the upper quartile, neonates were on average, 156 grams lighter than those in the lowest quartile. Other significant birth weight predictors included maternal nutritional status, parity, education, gestational age, and smoking during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that bone-lead burden is inversely related to birth weight. Taken together with other research indicating that lead can mobilize from bone into plasma without detectable changes in whole blood lead, these findings suggest that bone lead might be a better biomarker than blood lead. Because lead remains in bone for years to decades, mobilization of bone lead during pregnancy may pose a significant fetal exposure with health consequences, long after maternal external lead exposure has declined.     

Extremely low birth weight and body size in early adulthood

Aims: To determine the body size of extremely low birth weight (ELBW, birth weight 500–999 g) subjects in early adulthood. Methods: Cohort study examining the height and weight of 42 ELBW survivors free of cerebral palsy between birth and 20 years of age. Weight and height measurements were converted to Z (SD) scores. Results: At birth the subjects had weight Z scores substantially below zero (mean birth weight Z score -0.90, 95% CI -1.25 to -0.54), and had been lighter than average at ages 2, 5, and 8 years. However, by 14, and again at 20 years of age their weight Z scores were not significantly different from zero. At ages 2, 5, 8, 14, and 20 years of age their height Z scores were significantly below zero. Their height at 20 years of age was, however, consistent with their parents'' height. As a group they were relatively heavy for their height and their mean body mass index (BMI) Z score was almost significantly different from zero (mean difference 0.42, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.84). Their mean BMI (kg/m²) was 24.0 (SD 5.2); 14 had a BMI >25, and four had a BMI >30. Conclusions: Despite their early small size, by early adulthood the ELBW subjects had attained an average weight, and their height was consistent with their parents'' height. They were, however, relatively heavy for their height.