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Relationship between maternal growth, infant birthweight and nutrient partitioning in teenage pregnancies

  1. RL Jones1,
  2. HMS Cederberg1,
  3. SJ Wheeler2,
  4. L Poston2,
  5. CJ Hutchinson2,
  6. PT Seed2,
  7. RL Oliver3,
  8. PN Baker1

Article first published online: 13 OCT 2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2009.02371.x

Issue

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Special Issue: The gynaecological and reproductive health problems of puberty and adolescence

Volume 117, Issue 2, pages 200–211, January 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Jones, R., Cederberg, H., Wheeler, S., Poston, L., Hutchinson, C., Seed, P., Oliver, R. and Baker, P. (2010), Relationship between maternal growth, infant birthweight and nutrient partitioning in teenage pregnancies. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 117: 200–211. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2009.02371.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Maternal & Fetal Health Research Group, School of Clinical and Laboratory Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, St Mary’s Hospital, Manchester, UK

  2. 2

    Maternal & Fetal Research Unit, Division of Reproduction and Endocrinology, King’s College London, London, UK

  3. 3

    Department of Diabetes & Endocrinology, School of Clinical and Laboratory Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

*Dr RL Jones, Maternal & Fetal Health Research Group, University of Manchester, St Mary’s Hospital, Hathersage Road, Manchester, M13 0JH, UK. Email rebecca.lee.jones@manchester.ac.uk

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 9 DEC 2009
  2. Article first published online: 13 OCT 2009
  3. Accepted 29 July 2009. Published Online 13 October 2009.

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Keywords:

  • Growth;
  • insulin-like growth factor;
  • nutrition;
  • small-for-gestational age

Please cite this paper as: Jones R, Cederberg H, Wheeler S, Poston L, Hutchinson C, Seed P, Oliver R, Baker P. Relationship between maternal growth, infant birthweight and nutrient partitioning in teenage pregnancies. BJOG 2010;117:200–211.

Objective  Teenagers are susceptible to delivering small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants. Previous studies suggest that maternal growth may contribute, as a result of preferential nutrient partitioning to the mother. We investigated the impact of maternal growth on birthweight in pregnant teenagers in the UK, and examined endocrine mediators of nutrient partitioning.

Design  A prospective observational multicentre study, About Teenage Eating, conducted between 2004 and 2007.

Setting  Four hospitals in socially-deprived areas of Manchester and London.

Population  A total of 500 pregnant adolescents (14–18 years of age) with a singleton pregnancy were recruited at 10–21 weeks of gestation, with follow-up studies on 368 subjects. A cohort of 80 pregnant adults (25–40 years of age) provided a control group for determining growth.

Methods  Skeletal growth, weight gain and skinfold thickness were measured from first to third trimester, together with maternal levels of micronutrients and metabolic hormones: insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system and leptin. Dietary analyses were performed.

Main outcome measure  SGA birth.

Results  Maternal growth was not associated with SGA birth: growing mothers delivered more large-for-gestational-age infants (OR 2.51; P < 0.05). Growers had greater weight gain (P < 0.001), fat accrual (P < 0.001) and red cell folate concentrations (P < 0.01) than non-growers. Maternal IGF-I (P < 0.01) and leptin (P < 0.001) were positively associated with maternal and fetal growth, whereas IGF-I (P < 0.001) was negatively associated. Teenagers that were underweight at booking or with low weight gain were at greater risk of SGA birth.

Conclusions  Maternal growth was not detrimental to fetal growth in this UK population of teenagers. Greater weight gain and higher concentrations of IGF-I in growing teenagers may provide anabolic drive for maternal and fetal growth.

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