A Study of One Year's Development of Children Who have Experienced Abnormality at the Time of Pregnancy or Perinatal Period (1 st Report)

Abstract

The present writer will report the results of a follow-up study of the development of new-born babies during the first twelve months after birth made with the object of examining the relationships between the abnormality at the time of pregnancy, perinatal period, or nursling period and the children's physical development . (1) The average weight of the babies treated exceeded, at the time of their birth, the national mean value announced by the Welfare Ministry in 1960, and also in every subsequent follow-up study made in the fourth, eighth, and twelfth month, it showed 7 to 11% more than the same mean value . (2) The average stature at the time of birth showed 0.4% less than the above mean value, but it amounted to 2.7% more in the fourth month, to 2.1% more in the eighth month, and to 2.7% more in the twelfth month. (3) The weight at the time of birth and that in the twelfth month are observed to have a correlation with 0.1 % level of significance, while the stature at the time of birth and that in the twelfth month with loo level of significance . (4) At the time of birth 13 girls out of 48 weighed less than the mean value' but the number of these undergrown girls decreased to 5 in the twelfth month. The number of the boys who weighed less than the mean value at the time of birth also decreased from 9 to only 2. The facts show that most of the babies have been growing prosperously. (5) As for stature 15 girls stood less than the mean value at the time of birth, but the number decreased to 5 in the twelfth month, while 7 boys stood less at the time of birth and only 4 did in the twelfth month. (6) Those cases which descended in the stature proportion to the mean value during the twelve months numbered only 5, and the others showed either ascent or equivalence. (7) In the relationship between the mother's abnormality and the child's development, it has been found that toxemia of pregnancy, anemia, delivery by means of absorption, Caesarian operation, premature rupture, etc. have nothing to do with the physical development of children. (8) In the relationship between children's abnormality and their development it has been found that their asphyxia, icterus, cyanosis, the irregular breathing, the crying habit, the physiological decrease of weight, etc. have nothing to do with the regular development of their weight and stature. In short, it may be pointed out, contrary to the popular view, that no significant relationship can be observed between the abnormality in pregnancy, perinatal period, or babyhood and the development of the stature and weight of new-born children.