Tehran University Medical Journal

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Background: Low-birth-weight (LBW) children are at higher risk for failure to thrive. The aim of the study was to establish the trend of physical growth in Until now their growth was evaluated with normal birth weight baby's chart.
Methods: In this cohort study we investigated demographic characteristics and growth trend during the first of life 406 newborn divided into three groups: LBW (Low Birth Weight) n=103, VlBW (Very Low Birth Weight) n=20 and NBW (Normal Birth Weight) n=303. Body weight, length and head circumference were measured at the time of birth and several follow ups until 12 months of chronological age.
Results: NBW growth trend adopts the standard chart. Significant differences in terms of physical growth (weight- height- head circumference) were seen between the two groups of preterm (LBW & VLBW) and NBW children. Although it was demonstrated that growth velocity of preterm & NBW children were the same. Significant differences for weight was seen between VLBW and LBW group only until 6 months after birth. This difference was seen for height and Head circumference until the end of the first year of life.
Conclusions: VLBW and LBW babies need special growth charts. But the adjustment method of anthropometric traits to gestational age may be useful to evaluate LBW baby's growth.