With the well-established hypothesis of developmental origins of health and disease (i.e., Baker’s hypothesis), sub-optimal fetal growth, either restricted growth or over-growth, may subsequently lead to suboptimal cognitive/physical development, obesity and cardiometabolic health. In-utero environment is key for fetal development. Yet, maternal biomarker profile in association with fetal growth remain largely unexplored.

The main aim of the study is to investigate maternal biomarker profiles on suboptimal fetal growth. With longitudinal data collected at multiple time points during pregnancy, in addition to investigating the associations of maternal biomarker profile with fetal growth at single time points, this study empowers longitudinal change or trajectory analyses of maternal biomarkers and suboptimal fetal growth to best reflect the dynamic physiological changes during pregnancy of both mother and the fetus.

To achieve these research goals, the study will leverage upon comprehensive and longitudinal data, including maternal data and data of fetal growth, and maternal biospecimen collected in the NICHD Fetal Growth Study which included 2,802 pregnant women of four race/ethnicity. Fetal growth was assessed through ultrasonogram at four time points over the course of pregnancy. Maternal data on conventional pre-pregnancy and maternal health-related factors and longitudinal rich omics data assessed through blood and urine samples assessed four times during pregnancy are available for use.