The impact of maternal age on foetal growth patterns and newborn size

The association patterns between maternal age and foetal growth parameters as well as newborn size were analysed using a dataset of 4737 singleton term births taking place at the Viennese Danube hospital. Foetal growth patterns were reconstructed by the results of three ultrasound examinations carri...

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Main Authors: Kirchweger Franziska, Kirchengast Sylvia, Hafner Erich, Stümpflein Ingrid, Hartmann Beda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Lodz University Press 2018-06-01
Series:Anthropological Review
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.2478/anre-2018-0009
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author Kirchweger Franziska
Kirchengast Sylvia
Hafner Erich
Stümpflein Ingrid
Hartmann Beda
author_facet Kirchweger Franziska
Kirchengast Sylvia
Hafner Erich
Stümpflein Ingrid
Hartmann Beda
author_sort Kirchweger Franziska
collection DOAJ
description The association patterns between maternal age and foetal growth parameters as well as newborn size were analysed using a dataset of 4737 singleton term births taking place at the Viennese Danube hospital. Foetal growth patterns were reconstructed by the results of three ultrasound examinations carried out at the 11th/12th, 20th/21th and 32th/33thweek of gestation. In detail, crown-rump length, biparietal diameter, fronto-occipital diameter, head circumference, abdominal transverse diameter, abdominal anterior-posterior diameter, abdominal circumference, and femur length were determined. Birth weight, birth length and head circumference were measured immediately after birth. Young teenage mothers (≤15 years), older adolescent mothers (16-19 years), mothers of optimal age range (20-35 years) and mothers of advanced age (>35 years) differed significantly in body height, pre-pregnancy weight status and gestational weight gain. Surprisingly, the foetuses of young adolescent mothers were the largest ones during first trimester. During the second and third trimester however, the foetuses of mothers of optimal age range (20-35 years) and mothers older than 35 years showed larger biometric dimensions than adolescent mothers. According to multiple regression analyses, maternal age was significantly related to Foetal head size (ß =-0.04; 95% CI = -0,08 - 0.01; p=0.034) and abdominal dimensions (ß= 0.03; 95% CI = 0.01-0.05; p=0,011) during the second trimester and to birthweight (ß= -0.03; 95% CI= -4.40 - 0.04; p=0.050). The associations however, are quite weak and the statistical significance is maybe due to the large sample size. At the time of birth, offspring of mothers of optimal age range (20 to 35 years) is significantly larger than that of adolescent mothers and mothers of advanced age. Mothers of advanced age showed the significantly highest (p=<0.0001) prevalence (5.6%) of SGA newborns (<2500g). The small size of newborn among young adolescent mothers may be due to a competition over nutrients between the still growing mothers and the foetuses during the third trimester, while placental ageing may be responsible for smaller size of offspring among mothers of advanced age.
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spelling doaj.art-90be4121a10d4c14ace0fce894e387302023-09-02T20:59:40ZengLodz University PressAnthropological Review2083-45942018-06-0181211112910.2478/anre-2018-0009anre-2018-0009The impact of maternal age on foetal growth patterns and newborn sizeKirchweger Franziska0Kirchengast Sylvia1Hafner Erich2Stümpflein Ingrid3Hartmann Beda4University of Vienna, Department of Anthropology, Vienna, AustriaUniversity of Vienna, Department of Anthropology, Vienna, AustriaDanube Hospital, Vienna, Clinic for Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Vienna, AustriaDanube Hospital, Vienna, Clinic for Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Vienna, AustriaDanube Hospital, Vienna, Clinic for Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Vienna, AustriaThe association patterns between maternal age and foetal growth parameters as well as newborn size were analysed using a dataset of 4737 singleton term births taking place at the Viennese Danube hospital. Foetal growth patterns were reconstructed by the results of three ultrasound examinations carried out at the 11th/12th, 20th/21th and 32th/33thweek of gestation. In detail, crown-rump length, biparietal diameter, fronto-occipital diameter, head circumference, abdominal transverse diameter, abdominal anterior-posterior diameter, abdominal circumference, and femur length were determined. Birth weight, birth length and head circumference were measured immediately after birth. Young teenage mothers (≤15 years), older adolescent mothers (16-19 years), mothers of optimal age range (20-35 years) and mothers of advanced age (>35 years) differed significantly in body height, pre-pregnancy weight status and gestational weight gain. Surprisingly, the foetuses of young adolescent mothers were the largest ones during first trimester. During the second and third trimester however, the foetuses of mothers of optimal age range (20-35 years) and mothers older than 35 years showed larger biometric dimensions than adolescent mothers. According to multiple regression analyses, maternal age was significantly related to Foetal head size (ß =-0.04; 95% CI = -0,08 - 0.01; p=0.034) and abdominal dimensions (ß= 0.03; 95% CI = 0.01-0.05; p=0,011) during the second trimester and to birthweight (ß= -0.03; 95% CI= -4.40 - 0.04; p=0.050). The associations however, are quite weak and the statistical significance is maybe due to the large sample size. At the time of birth, offspring of mothers of optimal age range (20 to 35 years) is significantly larger than that of adolescent mothers and mothers of advanced age. Mothers of advanced age showed the significantly highest (p=<0.0001) prevalence (5.6%) of SGA newborns (<2500g). The small size of newborn among young adolescent mothers may be due to a competition over nutrients between the still growing mothers and the foetuses during the third trimester, while placental ageing may be responsible for smaller size of offspring among mothers of advanced age.https://doi.org/10.2478/anre-2018-0009foetal growth patternsnewborn sizeteenage mothersmaternal agefoetal biometry
spellingShingle Kirchweger Franziska
Kirchengast Sylvia
Hafner Erich
Stümpflein Ingrid
Hartmann Beda
The impact of maternal age on foetal growth patterns and newborn size
Anthropological Review
foetal growth patterns
newborn size
teenage mothers
maternal age
foetal biometry
title The impact of maternal age on foetal growth patterns and newborn size
title_full The impact of maternal age on foetal growth patterns and newborn size
title_fullStr The impact of maternal age on foetal growth patterns and newborn size
title_full_unstemmed The impact of maternal age on foetal growth patterns and newborn size
title_short The impact of maternal age on foetal growth patterns and newborn size
title_sort impact of maternal age on foetal growth patterns and newborn size
topic foetal growth patterns
newborn size
teenage mothers
maternal age
foetal biometry
url https://doi.org/10.2478/anre-2018-0009
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