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Introduction: Birth weight is influenced by maternal anthropometry. The SGA-rate of newborns of short and light mothers (<158 cm,<53 kg) and the LGA-rate of tall and heavy mothers (>177 cm,>79 kg) are overestimated. The LGA-rate of newborns of shorter mothers and the SGA-rate of taller mothers are underestimated. Individualized birth weight percentiles (IBWP) based on 18 maternal groups (6 groups of height combined with 3 groups of weight), sex and weeks of gestation have been published. The aim of this study is to validate IBWP by evaluating SGA-, AGA-, and LGA-rates using perinatal data., Methods: The validation study compares IBWP (1995 to 2000, n=2.2 million singletons) with percentile values from two German cohorts (i: 1995 to 2000; n=2.3 million and ii: 2007 to 2011, n=3.2 million singletons) using newborns from the Lower Saxony Perinatal Survey (n=0.56 million singleton newborns, 2001 to 2009). SGA-, AGA-, and LGA-rates were calculated using R statistical analysis., Results: Common percentile charts based on the total population 1995-2000 and 2007-2011 yielded SGA-rates among shorter mothers of 21.1 to 21.6% and LGA-rates of 2.0 to 3.1%. In taller mothers, SGA-rates were 3.3 to 3.5% and LGA-rates were 26.6 to 27.1%. IBWP achieved SGA-rates of 9.0% and LGA-rates of 11.4 to 11.6% in shorter mothers and SGA- and LGA-rates of 10% in taller mothers., Discussion: IBWP consider the maternal size for estimation of the fetal growth potential and achieve expected SGA- and LGA-rates of 10%. Consideration of individual growth potential avoids underestimation and overestimation of SGA- and LGA-rates. It aided analyses of birth weight with IBWP simplify the assessment of the nutritional status., Competing Interests: Die Autorinnen/Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background Anthropometric parameters such as birth weight (BW) and adult body height vary between ethnic groups. Ethnic-specific percentile charts are currently being used for the assessment of newborns. However, due to globalization and interethnic families, it is unclear which charts should be used. A correlation between a mother's height and her child's BW (1 cm accounts for a 17 g increase in BW) has been observed. The study aims to test differences in small for gestational age (SGA) and large for gestational age (LGA) rates, employing BW percentile charts based on maternal height between ethnic groups. Methods This retrospective study of 2.3 million mother/newborn pairs analyzed BW, gestational age, sex, maternal height and ethnicity from the German perinatal survey (1995-2000). These data were stratified for maternal height (≤157, 158-163, 164-169, 170-175, ≥176 cm) and region of origin (Germany, Central and Northern Europe, North America, Mediterranean region, Eastern Europe, Middle East and North Africa, and Asia excluding Middle East). Percentile charts were calculated for each maternal height group. Results The average BW and maternal height differ significantly between ethnic groups. On current percentile charts, newborns of taller mothers (≥176 cm) have a low rate of SGA and a high rate of LGA, whereas newborns of shorter mothers (≤157 cm) have a high rate of SGA and a low rate of LGA. When the BW data are stratified based on the maternal height, mothers of similar height from different ethnic groups show similar average BWs, SGA and LGA rates. Conclusion Maternal body height has a greater influence on BW than maternal ethnicity. The use of BW percentile charts for maternal height should be considered.

Aim: We aimed to develop national reference values for birth weight, length, head circumference, and weight for length for newborn triplets based on data from the German perinatal survey of 2007-2011., Material and Methods: Perinatal survey data of 3,690 newborn triplets from all the states of Germany were kindly provided to us by the AQUA Institute in Göttingen, Germany. Data of 3,567 newborn triplets were included in the analyses. Sex-specific percentile values were calculated using cumulative frequencies. Percentile values at birth were computed for the 3rd, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 97th percentiles for 21-36 completed weeks of gestation., Results and Conclusions: We present the first German reference values (tables and curves) for the anthropometric dimensions of triplet neonates and compare selected birth weight and length percentiles of triplets (after 32 and 34 completed weeks of gestation) to those of singletons and twins. The differences in the 50th birth weight percentiles between singletons and triplets after 32 completed weeks of gestation were 180 g for girls and 210 g for boys; after 34 weeks of gestation the differences were 320 and 325 g, respectively. The differences between twins and triplets after 32 weeks of gestation were 100 g for girls and 120 g for boys; after 34 weeks of gestation they were 130 and 135 g, respectively. The data presented here enable the classification of newborn triplets according to somatic parameters making reference to German perinatal data., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

This study examines the quantitative changes in the somatic classification according to birth weight and duration of pregnancy of German neonates when maternal height is considered (5 maternal height groups). Our calculations were performed using data of 319 884 girls born in 2010. Overall, about 6% (18 792 girls) are classified differently (more appropriately) when group-specific norm values were used., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Background: The weight gain during pregnancy is influenced by maternal body weight and height. With this study we want to illustrate the relationship between weight, height, body mass index (BMI) and the weight gain in pregnancy., Materials and Methods: Data of about 2.3 million singleton pregnancies were taken from the German perinatal statistics of 1995-2000. Weight gain was calculated as the difference between the weight at the end of the pregnancy and the weight at the first consultation., Results: The distribution of the weight gain resembles a normal distribution. Overall mean weight gain is 12.8 kg. For women weighing < 63 kg, there is a rise in weight gain with increasing body weight at the first consultation. Beyond 63 kg the amount of weight gain falls with increasing body weight at the first consultation. Weight gain increases with increasing height. Overall there is a negative correlation between BMI and weight gain. However, women with the same BMI but different body weights and heights can differ significantly with regard to their weight gain., Conclusions: Height and body weight at the beginning of pregnancy are important determinants of the weight gain. They should therefore be used when assessing the weight gain in clinical practice. Use of the BMI, however, is not appropriate. We are investigating other ways of combining body weight and height. This will be discussed in a later publication.