Long term health problems for SGA babies?

[Anagray, BSN]

I am wondering if anyone ever came in contact with information about small for gestational age babies and the long term health issues for these kids?

I meet many older women, who are eager to give me some pregnancy tips ( since I am obviously and very pregnant) and they tell me that " in their time, the doctors only allowed to gain 15 lb" and their babies were only 5 lb or so at term.

I was wondering if there is any reltionship between the babyboomer generation, their health problems and restricted weight gain for their mothers.

Do you feel that since breastfeeding wasn't popular it has effected both moms and kids as well?

[dawngloves, BSN, RN]

I know there is data on SGA kids and IQ, education performance and behavioral problems. Let me Google around a bit.

Aside, I was SGA and have dyslexia and respiratory problems. But I'm a Gen X'er.

[dawngloves, BSN, RN]

Here's a study:

http://www.unu.edu/unupress/food2/UID03E/uid03e0o.htm

Here's one on SGA infants, IQ and breast feeding

http://www.nichd.nih.gov/new/releases/breast_fed.cfm

Not on the older population, but I HTH!

[Gator,SN]

I don't know what any studies show but I did have a SGA baby and she has difficulty with math and reading. She has been tested and does not have a diagnosable problem, (ADD or learning disablility, etc) she is borderline and struggles with the everything. Due to her small size I experienced fetal distress while in labor. HR dipped into the 80-90's several times and she did not recover well. It was horrible and after her birth her sucking reflex was poor and she could not stay warm. She was 39 weeks 2 days and weighed 3.9 lbs. Eating is still is a major battle ground and she did not talk until age 3.

She is gifted in music and is the sweetest kid alive, but academically she is weak and we've tried just about everything.

Gator

[fergus51]

It's really hard to make a cause and effect relationship because SGA babies often have other issues (prematurity, maternal PIH or drug use or infection or poor nutrition, asphyxia, etc). Not to mention many SGA babies are born into poorer families without the needed resources to be able to cope.

[Cheerio]

Originally posted by Gator,SN

I don't know what any studies show but I did have a SGA baby and she has difficulty with math and reading. She has been tested and does not have a diagnosable problem, (ADD or learning disablility, etc) she is borderline and struggles with the everything. Due to her small size I experienced fetal distress while in labor. HR dipped into the 80-90's several times and she did not recover well. It was horrible and after her birth her sucking reflex was poor and she could not stay warm. She was 39 weeks 2 days and weighed 3.9 lbs. Eating is still is a major battle ground and she did not talk until age 3.

She is gifted in music and is the sweetest kid alive, but academically she is weak and we've tried just about everything.

Gator

Wow. I could have written that post myself! My son was born at 40wks exactly, and weighed in at 5lbs 8oz. Induced due to high bp, he demonstrated distress as well. He was in the ICU, partly to help keep him warm - and he's 18mos right now, and seeing a therapist because of lack of speech.

[keeper]

I wanted to chime in that my son was also small, though not as small as others mentioned here. He was 41 weeks 1 day and 5 pounds 14 ounces.

He has struggled with speech and developmental delays, though mild. His struggles, and his small size, are part and parcel of a deletion on his 22nd chromosome. The syndrome has many names. DiGeorge, Sprintzen, and Velo Cardio Facial Syndrome (VCFS) are the most common.

Since VCFS ties Down Syndrome as one of the most common chromosome abnormalities with a rate of about 1 in 2000 births, I thought I'd mention it, in case some of you want to take a closer look.

Sarah

(heart defects, immunodeficiency, and palate deformities are also manefestations of the disorder.)