Abstract
Somatic development at birth is associated with a number of postnatal and life-long health outcomes [1]. In clinical practice, percentile curves of birth weight, length, and head circumference are calculated according to gestational age and, along with growth indices derived from these parameters, are used to estimate neonatal somatic development. These percentiles allow an estimation of, for example, the birth weight of a particular neonate compared to other neonates of the same sex who were born after the same duration of pregnancy. A birth weight in the 50th percentile means that 50% of neonates of the same sex and gestational age were smaller (lighter) than the child in question. A birth weight on the 10th or 90th percentile means that 10% or 90% of comparable children were smaller (lighter), respectively.
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Zabransky, S. (2013). Birth Weight Percentiles: An International Comparison. In: Zabransky, S. (eds) Caring for Children Born Small for Gestational Age. Springer Healthcare, Tarporley. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-908517-90-6_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-908517-90-6_5
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