Customised growth charts in large-for-gestational-age infants and the association with emergency caesarean section rate

Abstract

Background and Aim: Large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infants are at increased risk of intrapartum complications. However, some infants classified as LGA may be appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) if adjusted for maternal stature. We determined whether customisation of birthweight centiles by maternal height, or height and weight, improves the detection of LGA infants at risk of complications. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 38 246 term, singleton nulliparous women. We compared population birthweight centiles to those customised by height, or height and weight for complications including intrapartum caesarean section, instrumental delivery, postpartum haemorrhage, anal sphi..