Prediction of outcome at 36 weeks' gestation
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Prediction of SGA and LGA neonates and adverse perinatal outcome at 35-37 weeks’ gestation
IRAS ID
269407
Contact name
Kypros Nicolaides
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 30 days
Research summary
Small and big babies are at increased risk of problems before, during and after birth. Some of these problems can be prevented if we can identify such small or big babies through the routine scan at 35-37 weeks’ gestation. Our efforts in the past have concentrated at monitoring closely babies with estimated weight in the bottom 10% (small) and top 10% (big) of the population.
However, we now realise that with this approach we miss many babies that either small or big at birth. There are two reasons for this: first, the ultrasound scan is not very precise in estimating the true size of the baby and second, a baby that is of normal size at the time of the scan may become small or big in the subsequent weeks before birth. We have some evidence that the prediction of baby size at birth can be improved if follow up scans are carried out in babies where the estimated weight is in the bottom 40% (small) and top 30% (big) of the population.
We are conducting this study to investigate whether it is feasible to introduce into clinical practice this protocol for the management of pregnancies identified at the routine 35-37 weeks scan as being small or big.
REC name
London - Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/1880
Date of REC Opinion
13 Apr 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion