CHARACTERISTICS AT 4 MONTHS FOLLOW-UP OF INFANTS BORN SMALL-FOR-GESTATIONAL-AGE - A CONTROLLED-STUDY

This prospective study compared 65 small-for-gestational-age (SGA) (bi rth weight <3rd centile) and 71 control infants at a corrected age of 4 months. It was hypothesised that differences would exist in growth, development, temperament and minor neurological signs and that these w ould be predicted by type (proportional/disproportional) of growth res triction at birth and maternal mood disturbance at birth or at 4 month s. Infants had a Griffith's developmental test and neuromotor assessme nt. Maternal mood and infant temperament were surveyed. Few difference s were found between SGA and control infants. SGA infants showed catch -up growth with 63% being above the third percentile and 43% being abo ve the tenth percentile for weight. SGA infants had lower Griffith's G Q scores (97 vs. 102, P = 0.02) and they were rated in temperament as more manageable than controls. There were no differences in subtle neu romotor signs. Neither type of SGA nor maternal mood disturbance at bi rth had prognostic significance for infant catch up growth, neuromotor scores, or temperament though level of maternal stress and anxiety at 4 months were related to lower GQ scores in SGA infants. (C) 1997 Els evier Science Ireland Ltd.