Neonatal neurobehavioural assessment as related to growth in infancy

The neurobehavioural performance of 84 full-term neonates was assessed. Anthropometric measurements including weight, length and head circumference were obtained and converted to standard deviations from the mean at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age. Optimal scores on measures of neonatal activity and reflexes had significant but modest correlations with a decrease in weight and length gain during the first year of infancy. This trend was present regardless of birth size. It is possible that neurobehavioural status is either related to the intrauterine environment or that a common factor contributes to both the neurological status and growth rate during intrauterine life and infancy.