UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENT PHASES OF FETAL GROWTH

Fetal growth was studied in 78 newborns who had serial scans in pregna ncy. Weight at birth correlated with growth in the first 2 trimesters but better with the growth between 28 and 32 weeks. The correlations f or weight at growth cessation were better than those for weight at bir th. Crown-heel length at cessation did not correlate with fetal growth in the first 2 trimesters. Maternal weight increase correlated with f etal weight and crown-heel length but not with head circumference at c essation. Maternal prepregnancy weight correlated with fetal growth be tween 28 and 32 weeks, but not with fetal growth in the second trimest er. A negative correlation was found between estimated duration of gro wth cessation and relative head circumference at birth.