Background: The prevalence of opioid use disorder has increased across the United States, but the rural population of Appalachia has been disproportionately impacted. Concurrently, the slow, but steady progress in the legalization of marijuana may be affecting perception of marijuana use in pregnancy. However, marijuana use in pregnancy has been associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. Concomitant use of opioids and marijuana in pregnancy has not been evaluated. Objective: The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the association between confirmed marijuana use in late pregnancy and preterm birth in opioid-exposed pregnancies. Methodology: A retrospective chart review was conducted that included all births from July 2011 to June 2016 from 6 delivery hospitals in South-Central Appalachia. Out of 18,732 births, 2368 singleton pregnancies indicated opioid use and met remaining inclusion criteria, with 108 of these mothers testing positive for marijuana at delivery. Independent sample t-test and Chi-Square analyses compared marijuana and non-marijuana exposed groups on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Regression analyses controlled for confounding variables in predicting neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), NICU admission, preterm birth, small for gestational age, and low birth weight outcomes as shown in Table 1. Results: Neonates born to marijuana-positive women in opioid-exposed pregnancy were more likely to be born preterm, small for gestational age, have low birth weight, and be admitted to NICU. After statistically controlling for parity, marital status, tobacco and benzodiazepine use, preterm birth and low birth weight remained statistically significant with aOR of 2.35 (1.30–4.24) and 2.01 (1.18–3.44), respectively. Conclusions: Maternal use of marijuana in any opioid-exposed pregnancy may increase risk of preterm birth and low-birth weight infants. Prospective studies need to examine the dose and timing of marijuana and opioid use in pregnancy to better delineate perinatal effects. Nonetheless, pregnant women using opioids, including recommended medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorder, should be educated about the risks of concurrent marijuana use during pregnancy and may need to be counseled to abstain from marijuana use during pregnancy for an optimal outcome.

This study aimed to assess and compare the visual perceptual, visual motor integration and motor abilities of infants weighing less than 1250 grams at birth and a matched group of normal full birth weight controls at the age of five to six years. The group of infants with birth weights below 1250 grams were born during the period July 1988 to June 1989 at Groote Schuur Hospital (GSH), Cape Town or in midwife obstetric units in the Peninsula Maternal and Neonatal Service (PMNS) and referred to the neonatal intensive care unit at GSH. The very low birth weight (VLBW) infants were assessed at 1 and 2 years of age in 1989 & 1990. The present study was part of a broader study that included the examination of developmental outcome of these infants, using the Griffith's Mental Development Scale (Griffith's). The study recognised the complex interaction of biological and environmental factors and their influence on development and attempted to describe the confounds that may have influenced outcomes. The VLBW children were shorter in stature than their full birth weight counterparts. They were also significantly lighter and had smaller head circumferences. Psychometric evaluation with the Griffith's showed the VLBW children to fall predominantly in the normal range, though their performances were significantly inferior to that of the full-term children. The greatest differences between the groups were in scores for the subscales performance and practical reasoning of the Griffith's. Visual perception, visual motor integration, fine motor skill and gross motor function were all significantly poorer in the VLBW children. There was no correlation within the VLBW group between the test results and birth weight, gestational age, growth status, neonatal hospital stay or social status.

Research has shown that children born low birth weight (i.e., ≤2500 grams) and/or premature (i.e., birth prior to 37 weeks gestation) are at increased risk of experiencing developmental delays, as well as long-standing executive functioning and academic challenges. Despite these well-known risks, children born low birth weight are under-enrolled nationally in Part C Early Intervention (EI) services intended to support developmentally vulnerable children. Little is known regarding why EI enrollment is low in this high risk population, especially given children born LBW are readily identifiable as at increased risk of delays at birth. This study explored EI referral outcomes from a high risk infant follow up program serving children with complex early medical histories that place them at increased risk of experiencing developmental delays to determine how many children referred to EI were ultimately evaluated and enrolled in the program. This explanatory sequential mixed methods study included a quantitative phase characterizing the EI referral outcome and a qualitative phase consisting of interviews with families to explore the parent/caregiver's experience of the EI referral process. Data analysis included descriptive statistics to characterize the sample and Pearson Chi Square and independent samples t-tests to investigate child characteristics associated with successful referral. Qualitative interviews were transcribed and coded for themes in an iterative and cyclical fashion. Results indicate that only 62% of the children who were referred for EI services were evaluated by the program, with about the same percentage of those evaluated being found eligible (67%). Of those who were not found eligible, about a third of children should have qualified based on previous testing and/or medical conditions. However, these qualifying medical conditions were often not clearly documented on the referral form, and not all forms included documentation of the scores from developmental testing. There were also a significant number (71%) of Oregon children referred to EI but never evaluated who were likely to have qualified based on medical history and/or results from developmental testing. There were several key themes identified following analysis of the qualitative interviews. Most critically, the parent/caregiver's perception of the need for the EI referral was identified as an essential factor in facilitating a successful connection to EI. Other key themes included the need to honor the many different demands placed on the caregivers of these high risk children, as well as the necessity of providing clear explanation of the purpose of both the visit to the high risk infant follow up program and the EI referral. The Chronic Care Model is used as a framework for discussing implications for practice.

Die doel van hierdie studie is die ontwikkeling van 'n ouerleidingsprogram vir moeders wat hul premature babas in 'n kangaroemoedersorgprogram versorg. Die program het ten doel om die moeders in die onmiddelikke versorging, sowel as die toekomstige begeleiding van hut kinders, toe te rus. 'n Literatuuroorsig word gegee van prematuriteit as fenomeen en van kangaroemoedersorg (KMS) as versorgingswyse, met spesifieke verwysing na die toepassing daarvan in Kalafonghospitaal. Die grondslae van ouerteiding word uit die literatuur opgesom en riglyne word ook gestef vir die samestelling van 'n ouerfeidingprogram. Die kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetode word gebruik om die inhoud van die ouerfeidingsprogram te bepaal en om ondersoek in te stel na die mees geskikte aanbiedingswyses. Die verslag word afgesluit met riglyne vir die samestelling van 'n prakties-toepasbare ouerleidingsprogram waarin inhoudsmoontlikhede, idees vir aanbieding en wyses vir die bepaling van gestelde uitkomste uiteengesit word. / The aim of this study is the development of parental guidance for mothers who take care of their premature babies in a programme of Kangaroo Mother Care. The programme aims to equip mothers for immediate and future care of their children. A literature review of prematurity as phenomenon and of kangaroo mother care as care method is presented with specifK: reference to the way it is applied in Kalafong-hospital. The basics of parental care are summated from literature and guidelines are set to design a parental guidance programme. The qualitative research method is put into operation to determine the content of the parental guidance programme and to investigate the most appropriate method of presentation. The report is concluded with guidelines for setting up a practical and applicable parental guidance programme in which subject possibilities, ideas for presentation and means for determining set outcomes are explained. / Educational Studies / M.Ed.(Spesialisering in voorligting)

OBJECTIF: Chez les Autochtones, la relation entre le degré d'éloignement et les issues de naissance est inconnue. L’objectif de cette étude est d’évaluer cet impact parmi les Premières Nations du Québec. MÉTHODE : Nous avons utilisé les données vitales de Statistique Canada pour la province du Québec pour la période 1991-2000. L’ensemble des naissances géocodées parmi les communautés des Premières Nations groupées en quatre zones en se basant sur le degré d'éloignement a été analysé. Nous avons utilisé la régression logistique multi-niveaux pour obtenir des rapports de cotes ajustés pour les caractéristiques maternelles. RESULTATS : Le taux de naissances prématurées varie en fonction de l’éloignement de la zone d’habitation (8,2% dans la zone la moins éloignée et 5,2% dans la Zone la plus éloignée, P<0,01). En revanche, plus la zone est éloignée, plus le taux de mortalité infantile est élevé (6,9 pour 1000 pour la Zone 1 et 16,8 pour 1000 pour la Zone 4, P<0,01). Le taux élevé de mortalité infantile dans la zone la plus éloignée pourrait être partiellement expliqué par le fort taux de mortalité post-natale. Le taux de mort subite du nourrisson est 3 fois plus élevé dans la zone 4 par rapport à la zone 1. Cependant la mortalité prénatale ne présente pas de différences significatives en fonction de la zone malgré une fréquence élevée dans la zone 4. La morbidité périnatale était semblable en fonction de la zone après avoir ajusté pour l’âge, l’éducation, la parité et le statut civil. CONCLUSIONS : Malgré de plus faibles taux d’enfants à haut risque (accouchements prématurés), les Premières Nations vivant dans les communautés les plus éloignées ont un risque plus élevé de mortalité infantile et plus spécialement de mortalité post-néonatale par rapport aux Premières Nations vivant dans des communautés moins éloignées. Il y existe un grand besoin d’investissement en services de santé et en promotion de la santé dans les communautés les plus éloignées afin de réduire le taux de mortalité infantile et surtout post-néonatale. / OBJECTIVE: It is unknown whether Aboriginal birth outcomes may be affected by the degree of community remoteness. We assessed community remoteness and birth outcomes among Quebec First Nations. METHODS: We used Statistics Canada's vital data for the province of Quebec, 1991-2000. Postcode geo-coding linkage was used to identify all births in First Nations communities (reserves). Communities were grouped into four zones based on the degree of remoteness. Multilevel logistic regression was used to obtain the ORs adjusting for maternal characteristics. RESULTS: Preterm birth rates rose progressively from the most remote (5.2%) to the least remote (8.2%) zone (P<0.001). In contrast, infant mortality rose progressively from the least remote (6.9/1000) to the most remote (16.8/1000) zone (P<0.01). The excess infant mortality in the more remote zones could be largely explained by the high postneonatal mortality. Postnatal SIDS was 3 times higher in the most remote compared to the least remote zone. Perinatal mortality was highest in the most remote zone but the differences were not significant across the four zones. Similar patterns were observed after adjusting for maternal age, education, parity and marital status. CONCLUSIONS: Despite lower rates of preterm deliveries, First Nations living in more remote communities suffered a substantially higher risk of infant death, especially postneonatal death, compared to First Nations living in less remote communities. There is a greater need for improving maternal and infant health in more remote Aboriginal communities.

L’asthme est l’une des pathologies chroniques les plus fréquemment rencontrées durant la grossesse, affectant environ 8% des femmes enceintes. Les lignes directrices pour le traitement de l’asthme affirment que le risque d’un développement non optimal du fœtus dû à un asthme mal maîtrisé est supérieur au risque associé à la prise de médicaments pour le traitement de l’asthme durant la grossesse. Des questions persistent par contre sur l’innocuité des hautes doses de corticostéroïdes inhalés (CSI) et très peu de données sont publiées pour les bêta2-agonistes à longue action (BALA). Un programme de recherche en deux volets a été développé afin de répondre à certaines de ces questions. Dans un premier volet, une cohorte de femmes asthmatiques accouchant au Québec de 1998 à 2008 a été assemblée à partir des bases de données de la Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec et de MED-ÉCHO afin d’évaluer l’impact de la prise de CSI ou de BALA sur la prévalence de faible poids à la naissance (FPN), de prématurité et de bébé petit pour l’âge gestationnel (PAG). La cohorte était composée de 7376 grossesses dont 56,9% étaient exposées aux CSI et 8,8% aux BALA. Dans cette cohorte, l’utilisation de BALA n’était pas associée à des prévalences plus élevées de FPN (OR=0,81, IC95%:0,58–1,12), prématurité (OR=0,84, IC95%:0,61–1,15) ou PAG (OR=0,92, IC95%:0,70–1,20). Lors de la comparaison des BALA (salmétérol comparé au formotérol comme référence) la différence la plus importante était pour le PAG (OR=1,16, IC95%:0,67–2,02). Pour les CSI, une tendance à une augmentation de FPN, prématurité et PAG a été observée avec l’augmentation des doses. Le OR le plus élevé était pour une dose > 500 ug/jour (équivalent fluticasone) pour le FPN: (OR=1,57, IC95%:0,86–2,87). La comparaison des CSI les plus utilisés (fluticasone comparé au budésonide comme référence) montre des différences non statistiquement significatives avec la différence maximale observée pour le PAG (OR=1,10, IC95%:0,85–1,44). Dans un second volet, une sous-cohorte de femmes asthmatiques avec visites médicales pour exacerbation d’asthme au Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke (CHUS) a été constituée pour comparer le traitement des exacerbations durant et hors grossesse. Les résultats montrent que le traitement par CS était moins fréquent et différé pour les femmes enceintes comparées aux femmes non-enceintes. Le traitement de maîtrise de l’asthme (CSI et/ou BALA) dans l’année précédant l’exacerbation était sous-optimal. Les résultats présentés dans cette thèse démontrent l’innocuité des BALA et des doses faibles à modérées de CSI pendant la grossesse pour les issues de FPN, prématurité et PAG alors que des études supplémentaires sont nécessaires afin d’évaluer l’innocuité des hautes doses de CSI. Une innocuité comparable entre les CSI (budésonide, fluticasone) et les BALA étudiés (formotérol, salmétérol) a également été démontrée. Les résultats montrent également un recours moindre aux CS pour le traitement des exacerbations d’asthme durant la grossesse comparativement à hors grossesse. Ces résultats sont un ajout important aux évidences permettant aux cliniciens et aux femmes enceintes asthmatiques de faire les meilleurs choix pour optimiser le traitement pharmacologique durant la grossesse. / Asthma is one of the most common chronic medical conditions encountered during pregnancy, affecting approximately 8% of pregnant women. Current asthma treatment guidelines emphasize the importance and safety of the use of asthma medications during pregnancy compared to the risk of poorly controlled asthma for the fetus. In the evaluation of the safety of asthma medications during pregnancy, the literature review shows that questions persist, amongst others, on the safety of high inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) doses and that there is a paucity of data on the safety of long-acting beta2-agonists (LABAs). A two components research program was developed to answers some of these questions. In the first component, a cohort of asthmatic women giving birth from 1998 to 2008 was constructed from the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) et de MED-ÉCHO databases to assess the impact of the use of long-acting β2-agonists (LABAs) and the dose of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) during pregnancy on the prevalence of low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth (PB), and small for gestational age (SGA). The cohort included 7,376 pregnancies: 8.8% exposed to LABAs and 56.9% exposed to ICSs. LABA use was not found to be associated with increased prevalence of LBW (OR=0.81; 95%CI: 0.58–1.12), PB (OR=0.84; 95%CI: 0.61–1.15), or SGA (OR=0.92; 95%CI: 0.70–1.20). In the LABAs comparison (salmeterol compared to formoterol as reference), the most important difference was observed for PAG (OR=1.16, 95%CI: 0.67–2.02). For the ICSs, increasing doses were associated with a trend of increased LBW, PB, and SGA. The maximal observed OR was for a dose > 500 ug/day (fluticasone-equivalent) for LBW: (OR=1.57, 95%CI: 0.86–2.87). The comparison of the most frequently used ICSs (fluticasone compared to budesonide as reference) revealed non-statistically significant differences with a maximal difference observed for SGA (OR=1.10, 95%CI: 0.85–1.44). In the second component, a sub-cohort of asthmatic women with medical visits for asthma exacerbations was constructed to compare the treatment of exacerbations during and outside of pregnancy. The results show a reduced and delayed use of systemic corticosteroids for the treatment of asthma exacerbations in women when pregnant than when non-pregnant. The preventive treatment of asthma (ICSs and/or BALAs) could also be optimized. The results presented in this thesis support the safety of the use during pregnancy of LABAs and low to moderate doses of ICSs for the outcomes of LBW, PB and SGA and point to the need for additional data on the safety of high ICS doses. A comparable safety between studied ICSs (budesonide and fluticasone) and BALAs (formoterol and salmeterol) was also demonstrated. We also observed a reduced and delayed use of systemic corticosteroids for the treatment of asthma exacerbations in women when pregnant than when non-pregnant.

Le faible poids de naissance (FPN) est un facteur de risque indépendant reconnu de maladies cardiovasculaires et d'hypertension à l'âge adulte, mais les mécanismes physiopathologiques sous-tendant cette programmation précoce ne sont que partiellement connus. Chez l'adulte, la dysfonction endothéliale et l'altération tant quantitative que qualitative de la cellule progénitrice endothéliale (PEC) sont un marqueur précoce et sensible de risque cardiovasculaire. Des altérations vasculaires (raréfaction microvasculaire, anomalies de la structure vasculaire) et une dysfonction endothéliale (altération de la vasodilatation endothélium-dépendante) sont retrouvées chez le nouveau-né de FPN. Cependant, l'hypothèse d'une altération de la cellule progénitrice endothéliale chez le nouveau-né de FPN reste à être démontrée. Au cours de notre travail, nous avons montré une altération des capacités clonogéniques et angiogéniques des PECs des nouveau-nés de FPN, tant in vitro qu'in vivo. Cette dysfonction pourrait être liée à un déséquilibre antiangiogénique d'origine environnementale conduisant à un profil antiangiogénique d'expression génique de la PEC. Ainsi, nous avons pu montrer qu'une surexpression du gène de la thrombospondine-1 pouvait en partie expliquer la réduction du potentiel angiogénique des PECs du nouveau-né de FPN via une inhibition de la transduction du signal de la voie Akt/PI3K. D'autre part, une diminution des concentrations circulantes de VEGF, dont le rôle critique dans la néovascularisation est bien connu, peut-être liée à une augmentation de son inhibiteur circulant, sFlt1 (récepteur soluble au VEGF), a été retrouvée chez le nouveau-né de FPN. / Low birth weight (LBW) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in adulthood. However, the mechanisms explaining cardiovascular programming are incompletely understood. In adults, a reduced level of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) is correlated with cardiovascular disease and independently predicts atherosclerosis disease progression. Recent studies demonstrated an impairment of vascular structure (microvascular rarefaction) and function (impaired vasodilation) in LBW neonates. Thus, we hypothesized that LBW infants display an EPCs impairment.We demonstrated an alteration of clonogenic and angiogenic capacities of EPCs fropm LBW infants, both in vitro and in vivo. This could be due to a fetal antiangiogenic imbalance and a subsequent antiangiogenic gene expression profile in EPCs of LBW infants. Through an inhibition of Akt/PI3K signaling, an upregulation of thrombospondin-1 expression could partially explain such observations. Moreover, VEGF pathway, the main angiogenesis regulator, could be involved as we found reduced circulating levels of VEGF, probably due to an increase of its main inhibitor, sFlt1 (soluble receptor of VEGF 1) in LBW infants. The addition of VEGF reversed the in vitro negative effect of LBW infants' sera on EPCs angiogenic function.This investigation opens the way for more studies of EPCs function in LBW subjects. Indeed, many questions emerged about the impact of such dysfunction on the future health of LBW infants.

United Nations has lately stated ambitious health targets for 2030 in the Sustainable Development Goal agenda, following the already achieved progress between 1990 and 2015 when the number of children dying before the age of five was reduced by more than half. However, the mortality reduction in the first month of life after birth has not kept the same pace. Furthermore, a large number of stillbirths have previously not been accounted for. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the impact of clinical training in neonatal resuscitation, and to identify strategies for an effective implementation at a maternal health facility in Nepal. Focus group discussions were used to explore the perceptions of teamwork among staff working closest to the infant at the facility. A prospective cohort study with nested referents was applied to determine effect on birth outcomes after an intervention with Helping Babies Breathe, a simplified protocol for neonatal resuscitation. Sustainability of the acquired skills after training was addressed by employing a quality improvement cycle. Video recordings of health workers performance were collected to analyse adherence to protocol. Midwives described the need for universal protocols in neonatal resuscitation and management involvement in clinical audit and feedback. There was a reduction of intrapartum stillbirth (aOR 0.46, 95% CI 0.32–0.66) and neonatal mortality within 24 hours of life (aOR 0.51, 95% CI 0.31–0.83) after the intervention. Ventilation of infants increased (OR 2.56, 95% CI 1.67–3.93) and potentially harmful suctioning was reduced (OR 0.13, 95% CI 0.09–0.17). Neonatal death from intrapartum-related complications was reduced and preterm infants survived additional days in the neonatal period after the intervention. Low birth weight was not found to be a predictor of deferred resuscitation in the studied context. This study confirmed the robustness of Helping Babies Breathe as an educational tool for training in neonatal resuscitation. Accompanied with a quality improvement cycle it reduced intrapartum stillbirth and mortality on the day of delivery in a low-income facility setting. Improved postnatal care is needed to maintain the gains in survival through the neonatal period. Increased management involvement in audit and quality of care could improve clinical performance among health workers.

O peso de nascimento insuficiente é decorrente, principalmente em países em desenvolvimento, da restrição de crescimento intrauterino. Embora as crianças nascidas com peso insuficiente correspondam a 30% dos nascimentos, o seu crescimento até a idade escolar tem sido pouco estudado. Não há informações sobre as diferenças existentes entre o crescimento das crianças nascidas com peso insuficiente e as nascidas com peso adequado. Neste estudo, foi avaliado o crescimento alcançado na idade pré-escolar por 323 crianças nascidas com peso insuficiente, comparado-o com o crescimento de 886 crianças nascidas com peso adequado, tendo como referencial os valores do NCHS 2000. Foi analisada a influência do sexo, idade, idade materna ao nascimento da criança, tempo de aleitamento materno, morbidade, escolaridade materna, número de pessoas na casa e há quanto tempo freqüentava a creche no crescimento alcançado pelas crianças nascidas com peso insuficiente na idade pré-escolar. No conjunto, o crescimento alcançado pelas crianças com peso de nascimento insuficiente foi menor que o observado para as crianças com peso de nascimento adequado, tanto em peso quanto em estatura. O tempo que a criança freqüenta a creche e o número de pessoas na casa foram fatores de risco associados ao menor crescimento entre as crianças com peso de nascimento insuficiente. A idade da criança foi associada também, porém, como fator de proteção. O crescimento ponderal deficiente teve o tempo que a criança freqüenta a creche como fator de risco e a idade da criança e a escolaridade materna como fatores de proteção. Se comparados com crianças de condição sócio-econômica semelhante que apresentaram peso de nascimento adequado, as crianças com peso de nascimento insuficiente são de risco para retardo de crescimento até a idade pré-escolar, evidenciando a necessidade de receber uma atenção diferenciada nos programas de atenção à saúde, incluindo a monitorização do crescimento. / The insufficient birth weight is decurrent, mainly in developing countries, of the intrauterine growth restriction. Although they mean 30% of the births, the growth of insufficient birth weight children has been little described, also until the scholar age. The influence of the demographic and socioeconomic variables in the growth of this group, until the scholar age, also needs to be established. There are not informations on the existing differences between the growth of the insufficient birth weight children and that observed for the adequate birth weight ones. In this study, the growth reached until the preschool age of 323 insufficient birth weight children was evaluated, compared with referential NCHS 2000 and to the growth of 886 adequate birth weight children. It was analyzed the influence of the sex, age, maternal age at the birth of the child, breast feeding duration, diseases, maternal literacy, number of people in the house and time of frequency to the day-care center on the growth reached for the insufficient birth weight children, until the scholar age. The reached linear growth until the scholar age for the insufficient birth weight children was inferior to the expected values of the NCHS 2000 referential. The growth reached by the insufficient birth weight children was inferior to the observed for the adequate birth weight children, in weight, stature and body mass index. The time that the child attends the day-care center and the number of people in the house were risk factors associated to growth retardation, among the insufficient birth weight children. The age of the child was also associated, however, as protection factor. The deficient weight evolution had the time that the child attends the day-care center as risk factor and the age and maternal literacy as protection ones. If compared to children of similar socioeconomic condition, but of adequate birth weight, the insufficient birth weight children are of risk to growth retardation until the scholar age. Thus, the insufficient birth weight children must have a differential attention in the growth monitoring programs.

INTRODUÇÃO: Gastrosquise é uma malformação da parede abdominal do feto e uma das principais complicações relacionadas à restrição de crescimento fetal. Objetivo principal: avaliar o padrão de crescimento de fetos com gastrosquise para cada parâmetro biométrico. Objetivo secundário: avaliar o déficit de crescimento em três períodos gestacionais e predizer recém-nascidos pequenos para idade gestacional a partir de medidas de parâmetros biométricos abaixo do percentil 10. MÉTODOS: Este é um estudo do tipo coorte retrospectivo. Foram selecionados 70 casos para avaliação do padrão de crescimento. As medidas de cada parâmetro biométrico: circunferência cefálica, circunferência abdominal, comprimento femoral, razão circunferência cefálica/circunferência abdominal e peso fetal estimado foram plotadas em um gráfico de dispersão para comparação com a curva de referência. A diferença porcentual entre as médias das medidas dos fetos com gastrosquise em relação aos normais foi determinada. Para a avaliação do déficit de crescimento foram incluídos 59 casos, com ao menos um exame em cada período gestacional (I:20 a 25 semanas e 6 dias; II:26 a 31 semanas e 6 dias; III: 32 semanas até o parto). O déficit de cada parâmetro biométrico foi obtido a partir da comparação entre os períodos gestacionais. Para a predição de recém-nascido pequeno para idade gestacional foram utilizadas as medidas abaixo do percentil 10 de cada parâmetro biométrico nos períodos I e II. RESULTADOS: Na avaliação do padrão de crescimento, observa-se diferença significativa entre os fetos com gastrosquise e fetos normais a partir de 20 semanas de gestação (p<0,005). Na avaliação do déficit de crescimento, apenas peso fetal estimado apresentou diferença significativa (p=0,030). O porcentual de fetos com peso fetal estimado abaixo do percentil 10 no período 2 foi 40% maior do que no período 1, e 93% maior no período 3 do que no 1. Na predição de recémnascidos pequeno para idade gestacional, apenas a circunferência cefálica (razão chance= 6.07; sensibilidade= 70.8%; especificidade= 71.4%) e a circunferência abdominal (razão chance=0,558; sensibilidade= 41,7%; especificidade= 80%) no período II, foram consideradas. CONCLUSÃO: Fetos com gastrosquise apresentam medidas dos parâmetros biométricos significativamente menores do que as de fetos normais, a partir de 20 semanas de gestação. Na avaliação do déficit de crescimento, observa-se maior incidência de restrição de crescimento fetal nos períodos II e III em comparação ao período I. É possível predizer recém-nascidos com baixo peso ao nascimento, a partir de medidas de circunferência cefálica e circunferência abdominal, abaixo do percentil 10 no período II / INTRODUCTION: Gastroschisis is a congenital abdominal wall defect of the fetus and one of its main complications is related to fetal growth restriction. OBJECTIVES: Primary: To evaluate the growth pattern of fetuses with gastroschisis according to each biometric parameter; Secondary: to evaluate growth deficit in three gestational periods and to predict low birth weight from measures of biometric parameters below the 10th percentile. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study. We selected 70 cases for evaluation of the growth pattern. The measurements of each biometric parameter: head circumference, abdominal circumference, femur length, head circumference/abdominal circumference ratio and estimated fetal weight were plotted in a growth chart for comparison with the curve of normality. The percentage difference between the mean values of the fetuses with gastroschisis in relation to normal fetuses was then determined. For the evaluation of growth deficit 59 cases with at least one exam in each gestational period (I: 20 to 25 weeks and 6 days; II: 26 to 31 weeks and 6 days; III: 32 weeks until delivery) were included. The deficit of each biometric parameter was obtained from the comparison between these gestational periods. For the prediction of low birth weight, the measures below the 10th percentile of each biometric parameter in periods I and II were tested. RESULTS: In the evaluation of the growth pattern a significant difference between the fetuses with gastroschisis and normal fetuses from 20 weeks of gestation (p < 0.005) is observed. In the evaluation of growth deficit only estimated fetal weight showed a significant difference (p= 0.030). The percentage of fetuses with estimated fetal weight values below 10 percentile in period 2 was 40% higher than that in period I, and 93% higher in period III than in I. In the prediction of low birth weight, only head circunference (odds ratio= 6.07; sensitivity= 70.8 %; specificity = 71.4 %) and abdominal circunference (odds ratio= 0.558; sensitivity = 41.7 %; specificity = 80 %) in period II were predictive. CONCLUSION: Fetuses with gastroschisis show biometric parameters measures significantly smaller than the measures of normal fetuses with 20 weeks of gestation and/or more. In the evaluation of growth deficit, there is a higher incidence of fetal growth restriction in periods II and III. It is possible to predict newborns with low birth weight from measures of head circunfernce and abdominal circunference below the 10th percentile in period II