Fetal growth and the etiology of preterm delivery

Abstract

By 32 weeks' gestation, fetuses later delivered preterm are already significantly smaller than fetuses later delivered at term. However, when stratified by the etiology of preterm delivery, infants delivered preterm for medical or obstetric indications had asymmetric growth patterns, which suggests a growth failure late in pregnancy. Infants delivered preterm after PROM or after failed or no tocolysis for spontaneous preterm labor were proportionately smaller, implying an overall slowing of growth that may originate early in pregnancy and possibly demonstrate a more chronic stress.