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INTRAUTERINE GROWTH RESTRICTION |
Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 1998 Jan;11(1):39-43.
Fetal weight gain in a serially scanned high-risk population.
de Jong CL, Gardosi J, Baldwin C, Francis A, Dekker GA, van Geijn HP.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, Vrije
Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Physiological as well as pathological variables influence fetal growth. This
study was undertaken to assess the influence of physiological variables on
fetal weight gain in a high-risk population with normal outcome. A total of
121 pregnancies had 3-13 (median 8) ultrasound scans in the third trimester.
Estimated fetal weight was calculated according to standard formulae. The
estimated fetal weight at 30, 34 and 38 weeks and growth per day in the last
2 weeks prior to delivery were calculated and compared between subgroups
defined on physiological characteristics, such as maternal height, maternal
weight, parity and fetal sex. There were differences in growth curves for
each of the physiological parameters studied. Maternal height and weight
were significantly related to the estimated fetal weight throughout the
third trimester but there were no significant differences in growth per day
in the last 2 weeks before birth. In contrast, subgroups defined by parity
and fetal sex did not show significant fetal weight differences in the third
trimester, but the daily growth rate prior to birth was significantly higher
for multiparae and male fetuses. Physiological factors affect fetal weight
gain and need to be taken into account when fetal growth is monitored in
high-risk pregnancies.
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