Cited by 68Infant Development and Preterm CareBirth, Development, and HealthPreterm Birth and Chorioamnionitis

Longer Gestation among Children Born Full Term Influences Cognitive and Motor Development

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Espel, Emma V., Glynn, Laura M., Sandman, Curt A., Davis, Elysia Poggi·2014·PLoS ONE

Abstract

Children born preterm show persisting impairments in cognitive functioning, school achievement, and brain development. Most research has focused on implications of birth prior to 37 gestational weeks; however, the fetal central nervous system continues to make fundamental changes throughout gestation. Longer gestation is associated with reduced morbidity and mortality even among infants born during the period clinically defined as full term (37-41 gestational weeks). The implications of shortened gestation among term infants for neurodevelopment are poorly understood. The present study prospectively evaluates 232 mothers and their full term infants (50.4% male infants) at three time points across the first postnatal year. We evaluate the association between gestational length and cognitive and motor development. Infants included in the study were full term (born between 37 and 41 weeks gestation). The present study uses the combination of Last Menstrual Period (LMP) and early ultrasound for accurate gestational dating. Hierarchical Linear Regression analyses revealed that longer gestational length is associated with higher scores on the Bayley scales of mental and motor development at 3, 6 and 12 months of age after considering socio-demographic, pregnancy, and infant-level covariates. Findings were identical using revised categories of early, term, and late term proposed by the Working Group for Defining Term Pregnancy. Our findings indicate that longer gestation, even among term infants, benefits both cognitive and motor development.

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Authors
Espel, E. V., Glynn, L. M., Sandman, C. A., & Davis, E. P.
Affiliations
  • University of Denver (US)
  • Chapman University (US)
  • University of California, Irvine (US)
Corresponding author
Davis, Elysia Poggi
Venue
PLoS ONE
Published
2014-11-25
Volume
9
Issue
11
Pages
e113758
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2152869412
Cited by
67
References
41
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 3
FWCI
5.64
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Chapman University Digital Commons (Chapman University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • National Institute of Mental Health (P50MH096889, MH096889)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS-41298;, R01NS041298)
  • National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD-40967;, HD51852)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD 51852, R01HD051852, R01HD040967, HD-50662, R01HD065823, HD40967, R01HD050662, HD-65823)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Development and Preterm Care
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Preterm Birth and Chorioamnionitis
Keywords
gestation length, term birth, term infants, late-term pregnancy, cognitive development, motor development, brain development, Bayley Scales of Infant Development, gestational age estimation, last menstrual period
MeSH terms
Adult, Child, Child Development, Cognition, Female, Gestational Age, Humans, Motor Activity, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Outcome

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