Stressed at birth : investigating fetal, perinatal and infant growth and health disruption
The trajectory and success of fetal, perinatal and infant growth and development is regulated and/or altered by a multitude of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Both growth and development exhibit a degree of plasticity and thus may fluctuate in response to early life adversity. Non-adult skeletal remains therefore provide a tangible record of growth and health disruption as a consequence of stress in the early life course. This study represents the first extensive and integrated osteological and palaeopathological assessment of fetal, perinatal and infant growth and health disruption. It seeks to determine skeletal responses to adversity and to provide a comprehensive consideration of the potential pathogeneses, etiologies and contextual factors which can affect intrauterine and postnatal health and growth. A total of 423 individuals from 15 different archaeological and historical samples, spanning a ~2000-year time period, have been considered for analysis. Assessment reveals a complex and intricate narrative of health and growth disruption, revealing evidence of chronic early life exposure to stress, which resulted in death for these individuals. A total of 192 individuals had both dental and skeletal elements
Hodson, Claire Michelle
Stressed at birth : investigating fetal, perinatal and infant growth and health disruption. The trajectory and success of fetal, perinatal and infant growth and development is regulated and/or altered by a multitude of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Both growth and development exhibit a degree of plasticity and thus may fluctuate in response to early life adversity. Non-adult skeletal remains therefore provide a tangible record of growth and health disruption as a consequence of stress in the early life course. This study represents the first extensive and integrated osteological and palaeopathological assessment of fetal, perinatal and infant growth and health disruption. It seeks to determine skeletal responses to adversity and to provide a comprehensive consideration of the potential pathogeneses, etiologies and contextual factors which can affect intrauterine and postnatal health and growth. A total of 423 individuals from 15 different archaeological and historical samples, spanning a ~2000-year time period, have been considered for analysis. Assessment reveals a complex and intricate narrative of health and growth disruption, revealing evidence of chronic early life exposure to stress, which resulted in death for these individuals. A total of 192 individuals had both dental and skeletal elements
stressed birth investigating infant growth health disruption trajectory success infant growth_development regulate and altered multitude intrinsic extrinsic factor growth_development exhibit degree plasticity thus may fluctuate response early_life adversity non adult skeletal_remain therefore_provide tangible record growth health disruption consequence stress early_life course study represent_first extensive integrate osteological palaeopathological assessment infant growth health disruption seek_determine skeletal response adversity provide_comprehensive consideration potential contextual_factor affect health growth total_individual different archaeological_historical sample span year time_period consider analysis assessment reveals complex intricate narrative health growth disruption reveal evidence chronic early_life exposure stress result death individual total_individual dental skeletal_element