No abstract available.
Fetal Development* ; Gestational Age*

No abstract available.
Fetal Development* ; Gestational Age*

This study was undertaken to make current fetal growth curve throughout later part of pregnancy. 5,110 normal singleton deliveries at Il Shin Christian Hospital were included. The 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th percentiles of birth weight were calculated from 21 to 42 weeks' gestation and the 10th, 50th, 90th percentiles of birth weight compared by fetal sex, maternal parity and height were graphed to know the potency of factors. There was a linear growth pattern between 28 and 38 weeks' gestation. During last month of prgnancy, three factors have significant effect on median birth weight but no significant differences in 10th percentiles. Maternal height & parity significantly affeect on 90th percentiles. So, these factors must be considered when diagnosing large for date.
Birth Weight* ; Female ; Fetal Development ; Gestational Age* ; Parity ; Parturition* ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the umbilical artery blood gas analysis and assess the relationship between fetal oxygenation and placenta to birth weight ratios in preeclampsia and small for gestational age. METHODS: We compared the results of umbilical artery blood gas analysis and placenta to birth weight ratio in group of preeclampsia (N=28), group of small for gestational age (N=15), group of large for gestational age (N=15), and controls (N=24). And we also divided all of them into 3 groups by placenta to birth weight ratio at birth, <0.2 (N=25), 0.2-0.25 (N=39) and >0.25 (N=18). We compared umbilical artery gas analysis in each groups. RESULTS: The placenta to birth weight ratio in PE was significantly lower than control group (p<0.05). Umbilical artery pO2 and O2 saturations in each group of preeclampsia and small for gestational age were significantly lower than group of large for gestational age and controls (p<0.05). But we could not find any differences in other umbilical artery blood gas analysis (pH, pCO2, HCO3-). Umbilical artery pO2 and O2 saturations of higher placenta to birth weight ratio were stepwise lower than those of lower placenta to birth weight ratio but, pCO2 of higher placenta to birth weight ratio was stepwise lower than those of lower placenta to birth weight ratio. But there was no significant difference. CONCLUSION: Our data suggested that fetal oxygenation is significant determinant of fetal growth from small for gestational age and preeclampsia. And it may be related to placental implantaton and growth.
Birth Weight* ; Blood Gas Analysis* ; Fetal Development ; Gestational Age* ; Oxygen ; Parturition* ; Placenta* ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Umbilical Arteries*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of antenatal corticosteroid therapy on fetal growth. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 797 singleton-pregnant women with high risk of preterm delivery who admitted between 24 and 34 weeks' gestation. They were categorized into three groups; (1) no antenatal corticosteroid users (non-user group), (2) single course of corticosteroid users (single-course group), (3) multiple courses of corticosteroid users (multiple-course group). The birth weight, head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC) and chest circumference (CC) of their neonates were measured. We surveyed if the neonates were small-for-gestational age (SGA) or not. RESULTS: According to antenatal corticosteroid use, 295 patients were included in the non-user group, 409 patients in the single-course group and 93 patients in the multiple-course group, respectively. The birth weight, HC, AC, CC and the rate of SGA of the neonates did not differ between any of the three groups. After adjusting the gestational age at delivery, the birth weight, HC, AC, CC and the rate of SGA of the neonates still showed no difference between any of the three groups. CONCLUSION: The antenatal corticosteroid administration to patients with risk of preterm delivery seems to have no effect on the birth weight and biometries of the neonates, and fetal growth does not seem to be associated with the number of courses of antenatal corticosteroid.
Birth Weight ; Female ; Fetal Development* ; Gestational Age ; Head ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax

Ponderal index (fetal weight in grams x 100 / (fetal length in centimeters) 3) (PI) is one of the anthropometric methods used to diagnose impaired fetal growth. Irrespective of the infant's position on the growth-weight-for-gestational age charts, PI is low in malnourished infants and high in obese ones. As fetal growth is affected by ethnicity, geographic location and socioeconomic status, we developed standards for neonatal PI, and assessed the effects of gestational age, sex and maternal parity. Data on 5798 newborns from singleton pregnancies born in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Split University Hospital, were retrospectively analyzed. Over a 15-month period in 2000/2001, 5596 newborns from 24 to 42 weeks of gestation were born. The other 202 newborns, born from 24 to 34 weeks of gestation in the ten year period, 1990-1999, were added because of the small number of preterm infants; ensuring a minimum of 30 to fill up at least infants in each gestational week. All mothers were of Caucasian origin. Stillbirths and fetuses with congenital malformations were excluded. The 10th, 50th and 90th percentiles, mean values with standard deviation of PI and the 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles of birth weight and birth length are presented separately at weekly intervals. PI showed linear correlation with gestational age from 24 to 39 weeks, after witch the data plateaued. Sex and parity had no impact on PI in infants born between 24 and 37 weeks. Analysis of variance revealed PI to be significantly higher in female than in male newborns, and in multiparous than in nulliparous infants after 37 weeks of gestation. In conclusion, gestational age is the most important factor of neonatal PI. The effects of sex and parity on PI should only be considered in term neonates.
*Anthropometry ; *Birth Weight ; *Embryo and Fetal Development ; Female ; *Gestational Age ; Human ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical course of discordant fetal growth and perinatal outcome in relation to dichorionic and monochorionic twin for different degrees of birth weight difference. METHODS: Between Jan. 1992 and Dec, 1997, 154 twin pairs were born at Yonsei medical center and there were 36 pairs of twins which had 20% or more birth weight difference. The placental examination were performed routinely on all multiple births and 13 pairs of dichorionic twins and 23 pairs of monochorionic twins were consisted of the study population. These twin pairs were divided into three groups based on birth weight difference: 20-29%(as group A), 30-39%(as group B), and 40% or more(as group C). Gestational age, birth weight, gender and perinatal outcomes were observed for each twin pairs. RESULTS: The perinatal death in the monochorionic twin pairs showed 9(34.6%) as group A, 4(50%) as group B, and 5(41,7%) as group C and in the dichorionic twin paus 1(10.0%) as youp A, 0 as group B and 5(62.5%) as group C. Up to 40% of birth weight difference, dichorionic twin pairs showed good perinatal outcomes compared with monochorionic twin pairs but over 40% or more of birth weight diffaence, however there were no significant difference of perinatal outcomes by chorionicity. In the monochorionic twin pairs, the cause of perinatal death showed 3 cases of prematurity, 2 cases of congenital anomalies and 2 cases of IIOC and 2 cases of cord lesions in group A whenas in the group B and C 3 cases of prematurity and 6 cases of congenital anomalies. In the dichorionic twin pairs, different-sex twin pairs showed no perinatal death in all three groups but in same-sex twin pairs there were 6 perinatal deaths. CONCLUSION: More recent improved fetal ultrasonographic surveillance such as determination of chorionicity, identification of fetal sex and evaluation of fetal anomalies help to make a clinical decision in growth discordant twin up to 40% of weight difference each other.
Birth Weight ; Chorion ; Fetal Development* ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Multiple Birth Offspring ; Pregnancy, Twin

Birth weight and gestational age are two important factors in assessing the neonatal mortality and morbidity. We collected the birth weights of 10,242 newborns who were born at Ewha Womans University Hospital from June, 1976 to June, 1981, including birth weight and gestational age. Mean birth weight with standard deviation for each gestational age and fetal growth curve are presented in single births and twins.
Birth Weight* ; Female ; Fetal Development* ; Gestational Age* ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Mortality ; Infant, Newborn* ; Parturition* ; Twins

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to correlate birth weight, skinfold thickness, gestational age, BMI and ponderal index of neonates and maternal status with cord serum leptin concentration. METHODS: Sixty newborns were enrolled in this study. Standard growth curves were used to categorize infants as appropriate(AGA), large(LGA), or small for gestational age(SGA). Gestational age, birth weight, length, skinfold thickness, and placental weight were measured. Maternal age, weight, and height were measured. Cord blood and maternal venous blood samples were collected, and serum was separated and stored at -20degrees C. Leptin was measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Mean leptin concentration in cord blood was 4.38+/-2.65ng/ml and closely related to size and adiposity at birth, but not to gestational age. Cord blood leptin level was significantly lower in SGA infants(1.64+/-0.58ng/ml) and higher in LGA infants(5.53+/-2.64ng/ml) than in AGA infants (4.99+/-2.37ng/ml)(P<0.05). Mean leptin concentration in maternal blood(13.01+/-8.28ng/ml) was significantly higher than in cord blood(P<0.001), and maternal obesity and serum leptin concentrations did not correlate with cord blood leptin concentrations. No gender differences were found in cord blood leptin. CONCLUSION: The leptin level of cord blood is highly correlated to the birth weight and the size of adipose tissue. Leptin may be responsible for the regulation of body mass of human neonates and can be used as a marker of fetal growth.
Adipose Tissue ; Adiposity ; Birth Weight* ; Fetal Blood* ; Fetal Development ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Leptin* ; Maternal Age ; Obesity ; Parturition* ; Radioimmunoassay ; Skinfold Thickness

PURPOSE: Leptin, the product of the ob gene is primarily by adipose tissue but also by the human placenta. Leptin may also have a role as a regulator of fetal growth and development during normal pregnancy as well as in pregnancies associated with anomalous fetal growth. Our study aimed to discover whether or not leptin concentration in neonatal cord blood correlates with maternal disorder(preeclampsia, antenatal steroid). METHODS: Seventy newborns - twenty of preeclampsia, twenty of antenatal steroid treatment, ten of diabetes mellitus, twenty of neonatal asphyxia- and their mother were enrolled in this study. Gestational age, birth weight, length and placental weight were measured. Maternal age and weight were measured. Cord blood and maternal venous samples were collected and serum was separated and stored at -70dgreesC. Leptin was measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Neonatal cord leptin concentration was significantly elevated in infants whose mothers received antenatal steroid, preeclamptic mothers and diabetic mothers Also, neonatal cord leptin concentration was correlated with maternal serum leptin concentration in those maternal disorders. Cord blood leptin concentration in neonatal asphyxia group was significantly elevated, but wasn't significantly correlated with their maternal serum leptin concentration. CONCLUSION: Neonatal cord leptin concentration was significantly increased in mothers with preeclampsia, diabetes mellitus, and exposure of the antenatal steroid. We find that maternal disorders affected leptin concentration in cord blood, and that increased cord blood leptin in neonatal asphyxia was shown to be a product of fetus.
Adipose Tissue ; Asphyxia ; Birth Weight ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Fetal Blood* ; Fetal Development ; Fetus ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Leptin* ; Maternal Age ; Mothers ; Placenta ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy ; Radioimmunoassay