Assessment of Diastolic Function During the Transitional Period and Infancy Using Serial Echocardiography

Diastolic Dysfunction, Gestational Diabetes, Neonatal Encephalopathy, Small for Gestational Age at Delivery, Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn, Trisomy 21

Diastolic function, Neonatal transition, Longitudinal, Tissue Doppler imaging, Speckle tracking echocardiography

The goal of this single-centre longitudinal observational study is to create reference values for diastolic function parameters in neonates born at 35 weeks' gestation or above, and to assess the influence of pre-defined antenatal, intrapartum, maternal, and neonatal factors on cardiac function. The main question it aims to answer are: * What are the normal reference ranges for parameters of diastolic cardiac function in neonates? * How are these influenced by maternal, intrapartum and neonatal factors? * Do the diastolic changes noted during the first two days of life persist into infancy? Participants will have four echocardiographic assessments in total: * Two during the first 48 hours of life (prior to discharge home) * Two during infancy (as an outpatient)

Participants will have their first echo to assess diastolic function, using both conventional and novel echocardiographic measure, within the first 6 to 18 hours of life approximately (Day 1 scan) and this will be repeated at 30 to 42 hours of life (Day 2 scan). Both scans will involve a comprehensive structural assessment to confirm normal anatomy. All participants will be invited to return for follow-up targeted echocardiography assessments to evaluate function at approximately 6 - 9 months (Scan 3) and at approximately 12 - 18 months of life (Scan 4). At each of these visits, their weight, height, any interim hospital admissions, serious illnesses or medical issues and medications will be documented using a structured checklist format.

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Ireland