The size of Jamaican newborns from 27-42 weeks gestation

ABSTRACT

Birth-weight, vertex-heel length and head circumference were measured in 1,230 new-born infants delivered at the University Hospital of the West Indies and admitted to the New-born Nursery between January, 1974, and December, 1976. Twins, babies with congenital malformations and those of mothers with haemoglobinopathies or diabetes mellitus were excluded, as were those born outside the Hospital. Gestational age, assessed by physical examination differed by two weeks or more from that based on the unconfirmed mentrual history in 35 percent of the babies studied. The patterns of birth-weight at gestational ages based on mentrual history indicated that the menstrual history, when used alone, was not a reliable indicator of gestational age. Data for weight, length, head circumference and weightlength ratio at gestational periods from 27 - 42 weeks as determined by menstrual history confirmed by physical examination are presented. Jamaican babies weighed up to 200 grams less than their North American counter-parts from 32 to 38 weeks of gestation, whereas this difference was not notable at term (AU)