Assessment of foetal growth from birthweight data at Central Women Hospital

An intrauterine growth standard was drawn from the birth weights of 1974 live born singleton babies whose gestational age were known and who were delivered normally in Central Women's Hospital, Rangoon during the year 1973. The mean birth weight at term was found to be 2987 G, the female weighing 2977 G and the male 3000 G. From 28 weeks to term there was a steady and gradual increase of birth weight. This was the main reason for the mean birth weight being lower near term than that of the European's Standards. The mean birth weight in the16-19 age group was lower than the older age groups- though parity may have been responsible for the difference. There was an. increase in birth weight with an increase in parity and first born babies were lighter than subsequent one.The association between babies of low birth weight and high perinatal mortality has been widely accepted. Babies of low birth weight may be either preterm i.e. before 37 completed weeks by gestation or small for dates. Preterm babies have had normal foetal growth in utero and are small because the gestational period has been cut short, whereas small-for-dates or dysmature babies showing intrauterine growth retardation are light because of antenatal development mostly due to placental insufficiency. "Combination do occur. It is necessary to differentiate between these two categories because of the difference in prognosis for the babies.