Fetal Growth Rates in Argentina—A National Collaborative Study

Abstract

A sample of 7,520 pregnancies, representative of the national population of Argentina was used to construct intrauterine Growth Charts. These are applicable nationwide and since 1974, when first designed, have proved efficient and more reliable in evaluating Argentine neonates than the Colorado Growth Charts. We have now evaluated the usefulness and have shown that despite certain changes, the Charts remain accurate and valuable as they were when first elaborated. Argentine infants do not grow at the same rate as those in other countries and, as expected, social and geographic variations can influence fetal growth. This effort should encourage the undertaking of similar ones in other Latin American countries, as they represent unique populations in need of knowledge of their own growth patterns.

Nouvelle formule de détermination de l’âge d’un fœtus

“…Les facteurs socio-économiques et environnementaux présentant d'importantes répercussions sur la crois-sance foetale [42][43][44], on peut considérer que notre échantillon n'a pas une valeur de représentation universelle. L'existence de facteurs socio-environnementaux influençant la croissance foetale est illustrée par l'étude de Hohler, qui a établi deux équations différentes pour les villes de Washington et de Miami avec une méthodologie identique [11].…”

Intrauterine growth standards in a developing country: a study of singleton livebirths at 28–42 weeks' gestation

“…Traditional fetal growth curves have been developed for the clinical assessment of neonates and their classification as normal or abnormal with regard to size at birth and nutritional status 1,2 . The most frequently used growth charts have originated in developed societies, 3–10 whereas few of the developing nations have attempted to devise their own references 11,12 . International socio‐economic disparities in terms of perinatal morbidity, mortality and risk factors for adverse outcome were previously documented 13,14 .…”

Human Growth

“…Also there is evidence that high altitude produces lower birth weights, although neither fetal head circumference nor length is similarly affected (Halac et al, 1982). Early in the third trimester, the weight curve is a straight line that represents the unrestricted growth of the fetus (Matheus and Sala, 1980).…”