PHYS30001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 26: Perinatal Mortality, Gestational Diabetes, Oligohydramnios
Document Summary
About 15% of size at birth is dependent on genotype. 2% depends on sex - males generally larger. Growth of the human fetus is not particularly growth hormone (gh)-dependent. Igfs, thyroid hormones and insulin promote fetal growth. Glucocorticoids inhibit fetal growth e. g. if pregnancy is stressful, baby is small. Environmental / maternal factors - most of these factors reduce growth. Maternal disease (some reduce, some increase e. g. gestational diabetes) Low term birth weight (<2500g) - 2% of term babies. Maternal undernutrition - third world; dutch famine 1944-5 -trimester specific. Maternal undernutrition - third world; dutch famine 1944-5 -trimester specific effects (fetal outcome depends on which trimester the famine hit) Common feature is reduced nutrient delivery across placenta. Babies born small have an increased risk of developing adult diseases. Late 1980"s epidemiological studies: fetal origins of adult disease". Mothers in hitchin, hertfordshire at the turn of the 20th century: midwives took detailed records of birthweight, growth trajectory, conditions.
