Premature delivery (<37 weeks) was observed to be another significant risk factor of birth defects during 2003-2012 ( P < 0.001), and for
postmature delivery (longer than 42 weeks), it was only significant during 2005-2006, 2008-2009, and 2011-2012 [Table 4].{Table 4}
Gestational age according to diagnoses Diagnosis Premature birth % Term birth % Mental retardation 18 79.2 Motor mental retardation 29.2 66.7 Cerebral palsy 51.4 47.9 Down syndrome 27.8 72.2 Autism-PDD 0 100 Muscle diseases 0 100 Learning difficulty 33.3 66.7 Other 25 75 Spina Bifida 42.9 57.1 Brachial plexus 8.3 83.3 Diagnosis
Postmature birth % Mental retardation 2.1 Motor mental retardation 4.2 Cerebral palsy 0.7 Down syndrome 0 Autism-PDD 0 Muscle diseases 0 Learning difficulty 0 Other 0 Spina Bifida 0 Brachial plexus 8.3 PDD:Pervasive developmental disorder
Although maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy has been associated with adverse outcomes such as FAS, stillbirth, miscarriage, being small-for-gestational age, low birth weight, pre- and
postmature birth, and abruptio placentae, the precise mechanisms are not known.
The composition of oocytes observed during this month was divided into three groups: premature, maturing, and
postmature oocytes.
Infants with a gestational age below 37 weeks at birth were considered as preterm, infants with a gestation age of 37-42 weeks at birth were considered as term and infants with a gestational age above 42 weeks were considered
postmature. Infants with a birth weight below 2500 g were considered as low birth weight, infants with a birth weight of 2500-400 g were considered as normal birth weight and infants with a birth weight above 4000 g were considered as macrosomic.