The Effect of Maternal Height on the Fetal Growth of New Zealand European Singleton Infants: 35–42 weeks' Gestation

Using a population of approximately 9,000 singleton deliveries collected over a 10-year period from a defined geographical area, the effect of maternal height on birthweight, length and head circumference was examined. Each 5 cm increase in maternal height accounted for an increase of 85g, 4.1 mm, and 1.5 mm respectively in these measurements in males; and 25g, 1.1 mm and 0.5 mm in females. When maternal height adjustments were used in conjunction with birth centile charts in the diagnosis of small-for-gestational-age infants, this condition was diagnosed less frequently where the mother was small, and more frequently when the mother was tall, than when the adjustment was not made. However, allowing for maternal height made no difference to the incidence of mortality or morbidity in small-for-gestational-age babies.