Maternal preconceptional weight and gestational length.
Recent animal studies suggest that preconceptional undernutrition shortens gestation. We retested this idea among rural Gambian women who experience annual fluctuations in energy balance caused by the rains (with lowest weights in September to November) using records from 1918 infants. Pregnancies conceived in September to November were significantly shorter than those from better-fed months (38.6 vs 39.0 weeks; log-rank chi 2 = 17.4, P < .0001).
Rayco-Solon
Pura
P
MRC Keneba, Medical Research Council Laboratories, The Gambia, Banjul, West Africa.
Fulford
Anthony J
AJ
Prentice
Andrew M
AM
D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D005714:Gambia; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009752:Nutritional Status; D016742:Preconception Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors