Maternal medical conditions during pregnancy and gross motor development up to age 24 months in the Upstate KIDS study. (26th October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ghassabian, Akhgar; Sundaram, Rajeshwari; Wylie, Amanda; Bell, Erin; Bello, Scott C; Yeung, Edwina
• Is Part Of: Developmental medicine & child neurology. Volume 58:Number 7(2016:Jul.)
• Page Start: 728
• Page End: 734
• Publication Date: 2015-10-26
• Subjects: Child development -- Periodicals; Pediatric neurology -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.12947
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0012-1622

Abstract

Abstract : Aim: We examined whether children of mothers with a medical condition diagnosed before or during pregnancy took longer to achieve gross motor milestones up to age 24 months. Method: We obtained information on medical conditions using self‐reports, birth certificates, and hospital records in 4909 mothers participating in Upstate KIDS, a population‐based birth cohort. Mothers reported on their children's motor milestone achievement at 4, 8, 12, 18, and 24 months of age. Results: After adjustment for covariates (including pre‐pregnancy body mass index), children of mothers with gestational diabetes took longer to achieve sitting without support (hazard ratio [HR]=0.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.75–0.93), walking with assistance (HR=0.88, 95% CI 0.77–0.98), and walking alone (HR=0.88, 95% CI 0.77–0.99) than children of females with no gestational diabetes. Similar findings emerged for maternal diabetes. Gestational hypertension was associated with a longer time to achieve walking with assistance. These associations did not change after adjustment for gestational age or birthweight. Severe hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were related to a longer time to achieve milestones, but not after adjustment for perinatal factors. Interpretation: Children exposed to maternal diabetes, gestational or pre‐gestational, may take longer to achieve motor milestones than non‐exposed children, independent of maternal obesity. What this paper adds: Diabetes, gestational or pre‐gestational, and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are associated with delays in achievement of motor milestones. Children of females with diabetes may have a motor milestone delay, even when born at term. Perinatal factors explain the associations between pregnancy‐specific hypertension and child milestones.