Intrauterine growth retardation: a preliminary report of long-term morbidity.

This is a preliminary report of a prospective follow-up study of 88 intrauterine growth-retarded (IUGR) babies and a control group of 97 babies with weights appropriate for gestational age. The characteristic clinical features of IUGR pregnancies were observed in the obstetric patients of the IUGR group. The babies of the IUGR group have a phase of accelerated growth during the 3 months following delivery although they continue to be smaller than the babies of the control group at 12 months of age. No major neurologic abnormalities have been noted in the IUGR babies although behavioral differences were observed during the neonatal period and at 12 months of age. There were lower mental and physical development indices at 12 months of age which were due to the IUGR babies of lowest birth weight and those with a low maternal urinary estrogen index.