Babies with fetal growth restriction may face years of developmental effects, from heart rate to brain growth

MedicalXpress | 六月 16, 2026

Fetal growth restriction may affect babies' heart rate, pain response, brain structure, growth and early development long after birth, according to a new study led by UCL and King's College London researchers. For the first time, a study has tracked the growth of babies diagnosed with fetal growth restriction from 14 weeks' gestation to 6 years of age. The authors of the new Scientific Reports paper found that differences experienced in utero, such as higher heart rate and lower weight, can persist after birth and cause compounding disadvantages into early childhood.