All issues > Volume 27(6); 1984

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1984;27(6):531-542. Published online June 30, 1984.

A Study on Intrauterine Growth Standard.

Young Ho Kim, Dong Gwan Han

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Yonsei University

Abstract

The use of some system on a nursery service which facilitates the recognition of infants born with birth weights disproportionate for their gestational age, either too large or to(x small, is becoming increasingly important in pediatrics. But, these recognition is possible only when birth weight-gestational age table is present. The purpose of this study is to establish the more accurate intrauterine growth data of Korean, and to provide some information in assessment of newborn baby. From Jan. 1972 through Dec. 1981, there were 20,403 births at Severance Hospital. The data for weight, height, head circumference and chest circumference which had bean checked immediately after birth were collected and percentile curves were constructed from it. The birth weight-gestational age data of fullterm on 1980/1981 was compared to that on 1971/1972 to assess the influence of the improvement of socioeconomic factor. Results were as follows: 1)Intrauterine growth in weight. The weekly fetal growth rised rapidly after 30 weeks: gestation reached a peak at approximately 37 weeks gestation, and dropped off rather rapidly thereafter. So the percentile curve pattern approximated a sigmoid curve. The 10th, 50th percentile at 40 weeks gestation were 2,660 gm and 3,680 gm respectively. 2)Intrauterine growth in weight of each sex. The sex difference was minimal before 30 weeks gestation. After 30 weeks gestation, the difference was increased to maximum at 40 weeks gestation about 100 gm heavier in male. 3)Intrauterine growth in length. The fetal height was increased rapidly from 26 weeks gestation to 38 weeks gestation and dropped rapidly there after. The 10th, 50th and 90th percentile at 40 weeks gestation were 46.8 cm, 49.4 cm and 52.1 cm respectively. 4)Intrauterine growth in head circumference. The head circumference increased rather steadily since 26 weeks gestation until 38 weeks gestation, declined after 38 weeks gestation and ceased after 40 weeks gestation. The 10th, 50th and 90th percentile at 40 weeks gestation were 31.8 cm, 34.0 cm and 35.9 cm respectively. 5)Intrauterine growth in chest circumference. The chest circumference increased steadily in linear pattern until 38 weeks gestation and declined after 38 weeks gestation and ceased after 40 weeks gestation. The 10th, 50th and 90th percentile at 40 weeks gestation were 30.2 cm, 32.4 cm and 34.5 cm and 34.5 cm respectively. 6)The weight-gestational age in 1980/1981 were somewhat heavier in 10 ~30 gm than 1971/1972, but it was small and insignificant statistically.

Keywords :Intrauterine growth standard