Which growth chart allows comparison for preterm infants from 22 weeks gestational age through 10 weeks post-term age?

Which growth chart allows comparison for preterm infants from 22 weeks gestational age through 10 weeks post-term age?

• A. Fenton
• B. Ehrenkranz
• C. Dancis
• D. Lubchenco

Answer: (A)

The important idea is tracking growth against postmenstrual age rather than calendar age when assessing preterm infants. To compare infants from very early gestation all the way through about 10 weeks after term, you need a chart that covers a wide PMA range, from about 22 weeks gestation up to roughly 50 weeks PMA. The Fenton preterm growth chart does exactly that, providing weight (and other measurements) curves across 22 weeks gestational age through around 50 weeks postmenstrual age. This makes it suitable for matching an individual infant’s trajectory to peers across the entire preterm to near-term period and into early post-term age. Other charts were developed with different populations or have a narrower PMA span—Lubchenco centers on term infants and doesn’t extend into preterm/post-term PMA, while Ehrenkranz and Dancis offer older or more limited datasets. Thus, the Fenton chart is the best fit for comparing preterm growth across that entire window.

The important idea is tracking growth against postmenstrual age rather than calendar age when assessing preterm infants. To compare infants from very early gestation all the way through about 10 weeks after term, you need a chart that covers a wide PMA range, from about 22 weeks gestation up to roughly 50 weeks PMA. The Fenton preterm growth chart does exactly that, providing weight (and other measurements) curves across 22 weeks gestational age through around 50 weeks postmenstrual age. This makes it suitable for matching an individual infant’s trajectory to peers across the entire preterm to near-term period and into early post-term age. Other charts were developed with different populations or have a narrower PMA span—Lubchenco centers on term infants and doesn’t extend into preterm/post-term PMA, while Ehrenkranz and Dancis offer older or more limited datasets. Thus, the Fenton chart is the best fit for comparing preterm growth across that entire window.