Infants whose growth is restricted in the womb show slower maturation of certain basic body functions.
Fetal growth restriction can result from a number of factors - such as poor maternal nutrition, certain medical conditions or infections in the mother, and defects related to the placenta or umbilical cord that hinder the supply of blood, oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. A number of studies have suggested that factors in the womb may have long-term health effects. There's evidence, linking low birth weight to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease decades later. Hence, it's suggested that adults who were growth-restricted as infants have a higher risk of developing high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease and should be monitored by their doctor for these.
February 2004
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