A HYPOTHETICAL MODEL SUGGESTING SUBOPTIMAL INTRAUTERINE GROWTH IN INFANTS DELIVERED PRETERM

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 65  (3) , 323-326
Abstract
Infants delivered preterm often reflect accelerated maturation. The occurrence was examined of suboptimal intrauterine growth in infants delivered preterm by comparing their birth weights to the weights sonographically predicted for in utero fetuses at similar gestational ages but who ultimately deliver at term. Two weight-predicting formulas based on different sonographic parameters were used. In the 5th, 10th and 50th percentiles of birth weight, the predicted weights were persistently and significantly greater than the actual birth weights between 24 and 31 wk gestation. The results of this model support the concept that the growth of infants delivered prematurely has been suboptimal. Preterm delivery may be in some instances another manifestation of the same underlying stress that hastens pulmonary and neurologic maturity.