All issues > Volume 33(7); 1990

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1990;33(7):887-900. Published online July 31, 1990.

Intrauterine Growth of Korean Infants from 25 Weeks to 44 Weeks Gestation.

Ghee Young Jung¹, Keun Lee¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Eu)ha Womans University, Seoul, Korea

Received: January 17, 1990;  Accepted: April 13, 1990.

Abstract

It is very important to reduce the perinatal morbidity or mortality by early recognition of abnor- mally overgrown or undergrown neonates. To achieve this, it is necessary to establish the standards of intrauterine fetal growth of Korean infants. Though there were some previous reports, we intended to make more appropriate fetal growth curve standards by retrospective cross-sectional study using the data obtained from measurements in 4 dimensions of infants at 25 to 44 weeks of gestation. The study was carried out at Ewha Womans University Hospital from Jaunary 1,1982 to December 32, 1988. Total 10,672 infants were included in the study and measured the weight, length, head circumference and chest circumference at birth. The samples were sufficiently large to represent the population distribution of Seoul area. In turn, the results obtained may represent the standards of the intrauterine growth of infants born in Seoul area. The data collected were analyzed by computer and the results of intrauterine growth percentiles were smoothed by arithmetic three-point means. Finally, the intrauterine growth curve of each dimension was drawn according to the basic classification of 9 newborn groups. This final results may provide convenient means of the accurate clinical assessment of newborn baby. The following results were obtained. 1) Intrauterine growth in weight Fetal growth was fairly slow through 25 to 31 weeks gestation, then it became much faster after 31 weeks and slow downed again after 38—39 weeks gestation showing S-curve. There noted no definite difference by sex until 31 weeks gestation. The difference became evident after then and males were heavier about 170 gm than females at 40 weeks gestation. 2) Intrauterine growth in length The fetal length was increased rapidly from 25 weeks to 38 weeks gestation and then it declined slowly. There noted no definite difference in length by sex until 32 weeks gestation. The difference became evident after 32 weeks and males were taller about 1 cm at 40 weeks gestation. 3) Intrauterine growth in head circumference There noted continuous head growth from 25 weeks through 38 weeks gestation and then the growth declined showing almost cessation of the growth. Though there was no definite difference by sex, head circumferences were greater in males about 0.5 〜 1.0 cm at 40 weeks gestation. 4) Intrauterine growth in chest circumference There noted steady increase in linear pattern until 37 weeks gestaion and it declined after 38 weeks gestaion and almost ceased at 40 weeks gestation. Chest circumferences were a little bit greater in males at all gestational ages.

Keywords :Intrauterine Growth Curve