Abstract
The pattern of preterm fetal growth faltering, normally seen in man, differs from that observed in animals. This type of fetal growth cannot be considered as an adaptation to facilitate birth but is more likely to be due to rapid evolution and imperfect adaptation to the upright posture. The pattern of posture and physical activity during pregnancy may therefore be an important determinant of fetal growth. Differences in intrauterine nutrition existing between social groups, usually ascribed to variations of maternal diet and nutrition, may well result from different patterns of maternal activity in the weeks preceding birth.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Bergner L., Susser M. W. Low birth weight and prenatal nutrition: an interpretative review. Pediatrics. 1970 Dec;46(6):946–966. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bieniarz J., Maqueda E., Caldeyro-Barcia R. Compression of aorta by the uterus in late human pregnancy. I. Variations between femoral and brachial artery pressure with changes from hypertension to hypotension. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1966 Jul 15;95(6):795–808. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(66)90081-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Campbell S., Newman G. B. Growth of the fetal biparietal diameter during normal pregnancy. J Obstet Gynaecol Br Commonw. 1971 Jun;78(6):513–519. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1971.tb00309.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Darlington P. J., Jr The cost of evolution and the imprecision of adaptation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1977 Apr;74(4):1647–1651. doi: 10.1073/pnas.74.4.1647. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Evans H. E., Sack W. O. Prenatal development of domestic and laboratory mammals: growth curves, external features and selected references. Zentralbl Veterinarmed C. 1973 Mar;2(1):11–45. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0264.1973.tb00253.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- GRUENWALD P. THE FETUS IN PROLONGED PREGNANCY. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1964 Jun 15;89:503–509. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(64)90555-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lechtig A., Habicht J. P., Delgado H., Klein R. E., Yarbrough C., Martorell R. Effect of food supplementation during pregnancy on birthweight. Pediatrics. 1975 Oct;56(4):508–520. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- RHODES P. Evolution and human reproduction. Lancet. 1962 Feb 24;1(7226):389–395. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(62)91356-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Suonio S., Simpanen A. L., Olkkonen H., Haring P. Effect of the left lateral recumbent position compared with the supine and upright positions on placental blood flow in normal late pregnancy. Ann Clin Res. 1976 Feb;8(1):22–26. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Thompson W. O., Thompson P. K., Dailey M. E. THE EFFECT OF POSTURE UPON THE COMPOSITION AND VOLUME OF THE BLOOD IN MAN. J Clin Invest. 1928 Jun;5(4):573–604. doi: 10.1172/JCI100179. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Thomson A. M., Black A. E. Nutritional aspects of human lactation. Bull World Health Organ. 1975;52(2):163–177. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Tuckman J., Shillingford J. Effect of different degrees of tilt on cardiac output, heart rate, and blood pressure in normal man. Br Heart J. 1966 Jan;28(1):32–39. doi: 10.1136/hrt.28.1.32. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Widdowson E. M. Changes in the body and its organs during lactation: nutritional implications. Ciba Found Symp. 1976;(45):103–118. doi: 10.1002/9780470720271.ch7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]