title: Catch-up growth in females born short for gestational age reduces the risk of giving birth to short-for-gestational-age infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to study the effect of catch-up growth on the offspring's length at birth among females born short for gestational age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data of 1,363 females born short for gestational age (<-2 standard deviation scores) were obtained from the Swedish Birth Register. The females were included in the register both as babies and mothers. The effect of catch-up growth on the offspring's birth length was studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Short adult stature was associated with a threefold increase in the risk of giving birth to a short infant [OR 3.08 (CI 1.73-5.50)] and smoking increased the risk in a dose-dependent manner. Overweight was associated with a reduced risk [OR 0.46 (CI 0.22-0.96)] of giving birth to a short infant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Catch-up growth to normal adult stature among women born short for gestational age is associated with a reduced risk of giving birth to a short-for-gestational-age infant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. Maria.Lundgren@bkh.uu.se
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Lundgren
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cnattingius
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jonsson
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tuvemo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D001827:Body Height; D002657:Child Development; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000254:growth & development*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013548:Sweden