It also is called fetal growth restriction (FGR).
IUGR can cause difficulties with breathing and feeding after birth or other long-term neurological issues.
These babies are also at risk of having longer-term issues, including significant neurological problems (likecerebral palsy).
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Infants born with IUGR may also have an increased chance of having certain illnesses when they are adults.
For example, they may be more likely to develop heart disease and diabetes.
Usingfetal monitoringduring delivery, healthcare professionals can detect that the baby is having trouble.
The parent giving birth to these babies is then likely to need acesarean section(C-section).
Parental Issues
Pregnant people who have IUGR dont experience symptoms directly from it.
However, a pregnant person might notice that this fetus isnt moving as much as fetuses in previous pregnancies.
They also might notice that they aren’t gaining as much weight as they did in past pregnancies.
Causes of IUGR
The causes of IUGR are complex and not fully understood.
The causes involved vary based on the specific situation.
Placental insufficiency might happen because the pregnant person isnt getting enough food to eat.
And often, when IUGR occurs, it is because of multiple factors.
The two types tend to have somewhat different causes.
Asymmetrical IUGR is the more common of the two.
It tends to be due to placental insufficiency.
Symmetrical IUGR tends to be resulting from other problems, like infections or genetic problems.
Infants born with symmetrical IUGR are likely to be on the small side for the rest of their lives.
On the other hand, infants born with asymmetrical IUGR are less likely to have ongoing issues.
They are also more likely to achieve a height and weight in line with their mothers and fathers sizes.
This weight can be estimated on a normal pregnancy screening test orultrasound.
Another closely related term is small for gestational age (SGA).
Thats an infant that is in those same percentiles for weight.
These fetuses may also be at higher risk for medical problems, like stillbirth.
Artery Analysis
Doppler ultrasound of certain blood vessels can give some clues about IUGR.
This test uses sound waves to get information about how blood is flowing through certain vessels.
These can also be diagnostic clues.
Infants not getting enough nutrients often compensate by channeling more of the available blood to their brain.
For example, you might need tests to check for certain kinds of infection.
Other times, anamniocentesismight make sense.
This test uses a needle to remove some of the amniotic fluid surrounding the baby.
It can be used to find genetic problems that might have caused IUGR.
Monitoring is a key part of treatment.
Your medical team will keep a very close eye on you and your baby.
This will be through your regular obstetrician (OB) appointments (and sometimes additional ones).
This monitoring is very important for giving you the best chance at a healthy pregnancy and baby.
Parental Health
Its important that the pregnant person is monitored to stay as healthy as possible.
Some people may also need to go on best rest to help improve blood flow to the baby.
If you have IUGR, you may find it helpful to work with a specialist trained inhigher-risk pregnancies.
If the problem is severe, you might need monitoring in the hospital prior to birth.
Ideally, IUGR is diagnosed during pregnancy.
This allows your medical team to monitor you and your baby and give you additional treatments if needed.
Your medical team will also help you decide the safest time and way to have your baby.
But its important to realize that many babies with IUGR go on to live completely normal lives.
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