Maternal physical and lifestyle factors were associated with fetal growth restriction, which doubled risk for preterm birth, low birth weight, and small-for-gestational-age status.
The influence of maternal lifestyle and physical characteristics on fetal development is multifaceted. In a population-based prospective cohort study of 1631 Dutch women with singleton pregnancies, researchers evaluated the relation between maternal factors and likelihood of first-trimester growth restriction; they also investigated whether such growth restriction raises risk for low birth weight and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) status.
Multivariate analysis showed that multiparity and older maternal age were associated with first-trimester fetal crown-rump length (CRL) >20th percentile, whereas higher hematocrit and having no more than secondary education were associated with shorter CRL (≤20th percentile). Higher diastolic blood pressur…