Maternal prenatal history and neonatal risk complications for low-weight for gestational age term newborns

Abstract

Background: Low-birth-weight (LBW < 2.5 kg or < 10 percentile) could be caused by constitutional matters (small for gestational age) or by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), both with different neonatal complications. Without an adequate prenatal evaluation, it is hard to establish those conditions. Knowing the maternal history for gestational diseases (MHGD), such as hypertension, hypothyroidism (HT) or diabetes, and among others, could help clarify that difference. This work aimed to determine if having MHGD is associated with neonatal complications in newborns with LWB. Methods: Retrospective cohort study, which included 349 with LWB at term (e 37 WG) grouped into those with or without MHGD at a hospital nursery. The frequency of respiratory distress (RD), hypoglycemia (HG), and hyperbilirubinemia (HBr) was determined. Results: Nearly 16.6% (58/349) had MHGD (58.6% for HBP and 41.3% for HT alone or combined). The neonate with MHGD was more borderline term (37 WGA, 55.2% vs. 35.1%, p = 0.037), and had lower weight (difference near 100 g; p = 0.028), had more cases with HG (13.6%; CI 95% −4.08-31.2%) but developed less RD (difference of −4.7%; CI 95%: −20.6-11.05%). HG in 39 WGA was only seen among neonates without MHGD (difference 12.7%; CI 95% = 3.9-31.5%) just as for the HBr cases (three). Conclusions: Inquiring about the MHGD on low-birth-weight term babies could be useful in the inference of IUGR, although we need other tools so that altogether can help to predict complications and to plan preventive actions.