Long term effect of gynecologic age on somatic growth of children.

A sample of New Orleans black primiparous women under 25 years of age, participants in the national collaborative perinatal study, and their singleton children were studied to determine the relationship of maternal gestational age (GeA), gynecologic age (GyA) and size for GeA (S/GeA) on the child's growth over seven years observation. Early childbearers (less than 4 years GyA) had a somewhat higher proportion of preterm births than the late group (greater than or equal to 4 yrs GyA). A repeated measures analysis of variance after correction for maternal prepregnant weight and weight gain, demonstrated the early group remained smaller throughout the seven years in weight, length and head circumference. Preterm infants showed catch up by one year in height and weight in both Early and Late Groups, though the Early Preterm infants failed to catch up with the other groups in head circumference. In this lower socio economic group, the legacy of early childbearing appears to be smaller child body dimensions which are likely permanent.