1 - Committee on Nutrition of the Portuguese Neonatal Society
2 - Neonatal Unit, Hospital Dona Estefânia and Maternidade Dr. Alfredo da Costa, Unidade Local de Saúde São José, Lisbon, Portugal
3 - NOVA Medical School | Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
4 - Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Unidade Local de Saúde de São João, Porto, Portugal
5 - Neonatal Service, Centro Materno Infantil do Norte Albino Aroso, Unidade Local de Saúde de Santo António, Porto, Portugal
6 - Neonatal and Pediatrics Unit, Hospital de Cascais Dr. José de Almeida, Cascais, Portugal
- Portuguese Journal of Pediatrics 2024:55(4):241-248. doi: 10.24875/PJP.24000062.
The Portuguese Neonatal Society updates the growth charts recommended for term and preterm infants. The appropriateness of growth charts depends on the gestational age, the purpose of the measurement, and the stage in the life cycle. To classify intrauterine growth at birth, the Fenton 2013 growth charts, which are based on anthropometric records at birth, are the most appropriate for both term and preterm infants. For monitoring postnatal growth in full-term infants, the WHO 2006 Growth Prescriptive Standards are strongly recommended. To specifically monitor weight loss in the first postnatal days, the NEWT® (http://newbornweight.org) nomogram is recommended. To assess body weight changes in preterm infants while in the hospital, an accurate open-access online calculator (www.growthcalculator.org), based on weight trajectories that take into account the initial physiological weight loss is recommended. Concurrently, the Fenton 2013 growth charts can be employed to monitor length and head circumference growth. To assess growth in preterm infants following their discharge from the hospital, the Intergrowth-21 prescriptive standards are appropriate in infants born at more than 27 weeks of gestation, up to 64 weeks postmenstrual age. Beyond this age, the WHO 2006 growth prescriptive standards should be employed.
Palavras Chave: anthropometry, growth charts, guidelines, preterm infant, term infant.