Developmental data in preschool children born after prolonged pregnancy

• Published in: Acta Paediatrica Vol. 94; no. 9; pp. 1192 - 1197
• Main Authors: Lindström, Katarina, Fernell, Elisabeth, Westgren, Magnus
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2005; Blackwell
• Subjects: Apgar Score; Biological and medical sciences; Birth Weight; Child Development - physiology; Child, Preschool; Developmental Disabilities - etiology; Developmental outcome; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Female; General aspects; gestational age; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Medical sciences; postdate pregnancy; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Prolonged; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Risk Factors; Sweden; ultrasound dating; Sweden; Preschool age; Sonography; Human; Pediatrics; Prognosis; Pregnancy disorders; Prolonged pregnancy; Data; Birth; Developmental outcome; Gestational age; Echography; ultrasound dating; Development; Evolution; Female; Developmental stage; Woman; postdate pregnancy; Ultrasound
• ISSN: 0803-5253; 1651-2227
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2005.tb02073.x

Aim: To evaluate children born post‐term (gestational age 42 weeks) with respect to developmental data obtained at the ages of 4 and 5.5 y. Methods: The study population included all children (n=354) born in 1991 at Huddinge University Hospital with a gestational age of 42 wk. The births were identified and perinatal data were collected through the Swedish National Birth Registry. Developmental assessments from the child health centres were analysed. Children born at term, but before a gestational age of 42 wk, served as controls. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: Children born post‐term had more developmental deviations than the controls (estimated odds ratio 2.20; 95% CI: 1.29–3.85). Boys had more deviations than girls (estimated odds ratio 1.92; 95% CI: 1.11–3.45). Conclusion: Our results indicate that there might be an association between post‐term birth and developmental deviations.