Associations of fetal growth patterns and growth in the first two years of life: a longitudinal study of a Beijing birth cohort.
- 1Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing, China.
Abstract
Background
This study aimed to evaluate the association between fetal growth patterns and early childhood growth rate.Methods
In total, 6,370 mother-child pairs were included in a birth cohort in Beijing. Fetal biometric parameters were measured at 20-24, 28-32, 33-36 weeks, and at ≥37 weeks of gestation, and infant weight and length were assessed from birth to 24 months of age. Changes in the weight-for-length Z-score (WLZ) from birth to 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months of age were used to classify infant growth velocity as slow (change in WLZ < -0.67) and or rapid (change in WLZ >0.67). A group-based trajectory model was used to identify fetal growth patterns. Generalised linear models and longitudinal modified Poisson GEE models were used to assess the association between fetal trajectories and infant growth velocity.Results
Five fetal growth patterns were identified. Early acceleration with late decline and a moderate final Z score (EALD-M) showed no obvious trend in growth rate from birth to 24 months of age. Early deceleration (ED) was significantly associated with an increased risk of rapid growth at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months (risk ratio [RR] = 1.93-2.56), followed by stable growth (SG) (RR = 1.47-1.74). Early acceleration with late decline and high final Z score (EALD-H) was associated with an increased risk of slow growth at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months (RR = 1.64-2.02), followed by late acceleration growth (LA) (RR = 1.26-1.48).Conclusion
ED and SG are associated with rapid growth, whereas LA and EALD-H are associated with slow growth.
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BibTeX
@article{meng2026associations,
title = {{Associations of fetal growth patterns and growth in the first two years of life: a longitudinal study of a Beijing birth cohort.}},
author = {Xiangli Meng and Xiaofei Li and Lina Yi and Xiaowei Xiong and Shangjin Zhong and Minghui Wu and Na Zhang and Qingqing Wu},
journal = {Annals of medicine},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1080/07853890.2026.2757376},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42969895},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Associations of fetal growth patterns and growth in the first two years of life: a longitudinal study of a Beijing birth cohort.
AU - Xiangli Meng
AU - Xiaofei Li
AU - Lina Yi
AU - Xiaowei Xiong
AU - Shangjin Zhong
AU - Minghui Wu
AU - Na Zhang
AU - Qingqing Wu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/02
JO - Annals of medicine
DO - 10.1080/07853890.2026.2757376
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42969895
AB - Background This study aimed to evaluate the association between fetal growth patterns and early childhood growth rate.Methods In total, 6,370 mother-child pairs were included in a birth cohort in Beijing. Fetal biometric parameters were measured at 20-24, 28-32, 33-36 weeks, and at ≥37 weeks of gestation, and infant weight and length were assessed from birth to 24 months of age. Changes in the weight-for-length Z-score (WLZ) from birth to 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months of age were used to classify infant growth velocity as slow (change in WLZ < -0.67) and or rapid (change in WLZ >0.67). A group-based trajectory model was used to identify fetal growth patterns. Generalised linear models and longitudinal modified Poisson GEE models were used to assess the association between fetal trajectories and infant growth velocity.Results Five fetal growth patterns were identified. Early acceleration with late decline and a moderate final Z score (EALD-M) showed no obvious trend in growth rate from birth to 24 months of age. Early deceleration (ED) was significantly associated with an increased risk of rapid growth at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months (risk ratio [RR] = 1.93-2.56), followed by stable growth (SG) (RR = 1.47-1.74). Early acceleration with late decline and high final Z score (EALD-H) was associated with an increased risk of slow growth at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months (RR = 1.64-2.02), followed by late acceleration growth (LA) (RR = 1.26-1.48).Conclusion ED and SG are associated with rapid growth, whereas LA and EALD-H are associated with slow growth.
SN - 0785-3890
SN - 1365-2060
ER -