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Description

Also known as intrauterine growth retardation, IUGR describes a fetus whose weight is below the 10th percentile for gestational age. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) may be suspected if the mother's uterus is small for gestational age. IUGR is usually confirmed by ultrasound. There are several things that can cause a fetus to be small.

Malnourishment of the fetus is the number one cause and can occur as a result of an insufficient placenta, multiple pregnancies, if the mother has heart disease, preeclampsia, eclampsia, or if the mother lives at a high altitude.

Risk factors in the mother that are conducive to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) include poor nutrition, smoking during pregnancy, drug addiction, and alcohol abuse. A small mother may also produce a smaller baby, not related to IUGR.

Depending on the cause of IUGR, the fetus may have a head that is normal in size for gestational age, while the remainder of the fetus is growth restricted or have a head that is proportionate to the body.

Symptoms

Being pregnant and feeling that the baby is not as big as it should be. Having a fundal height that is lower than it should be.

Tests

A Prenatal exam may show that the fetus is small for gestational age (the uterine size is less than expected for how many weeks the mother is). If IUGR is suspected, tests for prenatal infection, chromosomal abnormalities and congenital anomalies may be performed.

Treatment

Because IUGR fetuses are at higher risk for intrauterine death, prenatal surveillance may be used. Usually used in the form of non-stress testing or serial fetal ultrasounds. Depending on the results of these tests, your doctor will tell you what your chances of having a vaginal birth are.

Prognosis

You may wonder, if your baby will develop normally. Normal newborn development after being diagnosed with IUGR will vary in the degree of severity of the specific case. This should be discussed with your OB/GYN.

Complications

Since each case of IUGR is different, you should discuss potential complications with your obstetrician and pediatrician.

When to call a Doctor

Call your health care provider if you are pregnant and the fetus seems very small. Also call if your infant or child does not seem to be thriving.

Prevention

Getting adequate nutrition during pregnancy, following doctors limitations and recommendations, getting routine prenatal care (including prenatal vitamins), most importantly not smoking, or using drugs/alcohol.

Resources

General Pregnancy

Pregnancy at About.com (http://pregnancy.about.com/)
Pregnancy and Parenting at iVillage (http://parenting.ivillage.com/)
Pregnancy Symptoms (http://www.epigee.org/pregnancy/symptoms.html)
Top Ten Signs You Might be Pregnant (http://www.babycenter.com/pregnancy-symptoms)
Pregnancy Symptoms from MedicineNet (http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=79528)
Pregnancy at BabyZone (http://www.babyzone.com/loadpage/topic.asp?topicid=125628)

Childbirth

ChildBirth.org (http://www.childbirth.org/)
Childbirth on WikiPedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childbirth)
Childbirth Photos and Videos (http://technorati.com/tag/childbirth)
National Institute of Health (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childbirth.html)
Unassisted Childbirth (http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/)
Pain Medications During Labor (http://www.babies.sutterhealth.org/laboranddelivery/ld_meds.html)
Labor Pain Meds at Mayo Clinic (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/labor-and-delivery/PR00105)

Complications

Pregnancy complications at BabyCenter.com (http://www.babycenter.com/pregnancy/pregcomplications/index)
Bacterial Vaginosis (http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/bacterialvaginoses.htm)
Incompetent Cervix (http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/incompetentcervix.html)
Chronic Hypertension (http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/pregnancy/pregcomplications/1427404.html)
Ectopic or Tubal Pregnancy (http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/pregnancy/ectopic.html)
Gestational Diabetes (http://www.diabetes.org/gestational-diabetes.jsp)
Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) (http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/pregnancy/fetal/313.html)
Iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy (http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/pregnancy/pregcomplications/3073.html)
Placenta Previa (http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/placentaprevia/a/previa.htm)
Placental Abruption (http://folsomobgyn.com/placental_abruption.htm)
Pre-Eclampsia (http://www.preeclampsia.org/)