What is a major advantage of the Fenton growth chart?

• A. Tracks growth from 22 weeks GA through 10 weeks post-term
• B. Includes only term infants
• C. Is based on longitudinal data
• D. Requires birthweight only

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that the Fenton growth chart provides a single, gestational-age–specific reference that covers both prenatal and early postnatal life, so you can evaluate preterm infants across the entire transition from womb to infancy. It spans from 22 weeks gestational age through 10 weeks post-term, giving you a continuous framework to plot measurements as the infant progresses through very early development and into the early postnatal period. This wide window is what makes it especially useful: you can compare postnatal measurements to the expected intrauterine growth trajectory at the same postmenstrual age, helping detect growth faltering or catch-up growth during NICU stay and after discharge. It isn’t limited to term infants or to birthweight alone; it uses multiple measurements (weight, length, head circumference) across a broad PMA range.