Is a Baby Normal Undersized at Full Term

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Information from Your Family Doctor

IUGR—Why Is My Baby Small and What Tin Be Done Almost It?

Am Fam Physician. 1998 Oct 15;58(6):1393-1394.

  Run across related article on intrauterine growth retardation.

What is IUGR?

IUGR stands for intrauterine growth retardation. This means that your baby is growing slowly and doesn't weigh every bit much every bit your doctor expected for this stage of pregnancy. If your unborn babe weighs less than near babies at this phase, your infant might have IUGR. IUGR is also used to describe a baby who weighs less at birth than most babies at the aforementioned phase. For babies who are built-in near their due date (meaning, they aren't premature), the dangerous weight is annihilation less than v pounds, 8 ounces.

Your doctor might suspect IUGR if he or she thinks your baby is growing slightly less than would be expected. IUGR is usually diagnosed during an ultrasound examination. Doctors nigh oftentimes notice it during the 6th, the 7th or the 8th months of pregnancy.

It's important to know that IUGR only means slowed growing. These minor babies aren't mentally slow or retarded. Well-nigh pocket-sized babies grow upward to be healthy children and adults.

Why is my baby small?

Doctors know many of the causes of IUGR but are but able to be sure virtually the cause in about one one-half of babies who take IUGR. The about common reasons for a baby to be pocket-size are the post-obit:

• The mother smoked cigarettes during pregnancy.

• The female parent drank alcohol during pregnancy.

• The mother had high blood pressure level during pregnancy.

• The mother had infections during pregnancy.

• The baby has chromosomal abnormalities (like Downwards syndrome).

• The mother used sure medicines during pregnancy.

• The female parent is small (less than v feet tall or weighing less than 110 pounds).

Why is my baby'due south size important?

The best predictor of a infant's survival and good wellness is its nascence weight. Babies born with low nascency weight might have problems near the time of birth. Because of the danger of some of these problems—such as difficulty holding a normal torso temperature or fighting infection—your dr. will do some tests to find out if your baby is growing well, both before and later on birth.

What tests might be washed on my infant?

Ii tests can find out if your baby has IUGR and keep rail of your baby's growth in the womb. These tests are the ultrasound examination and the nonstress examination. The kickoff kind of test, the ultrasound test, is used to detect out if your baby has IUGR. This exam is done every three to 4 weeks to brand certain your baby is still growing correct. The ultrasound exams permit your md expect at your baby's internal organs and measure the amount of fluid around the baby.

Special ultrasound exams are called biophysical profiles. During a biophysical profile, the person who does the exam will also watch your infant's breathing, muscle tone and movements.

The other test is the nonstress examination. This examination is usually done in the medico's role, only it might be washed in a hospital. A nonstress test measures how fast your babe's heart is beating. A healthy baby ordinarily has a heartbeat that gets faster as the baby moves around. A nonstress test takes well-nigh 20 to 30 minutes to do. It might take longer if your baby is asleep.

Sometimes your doc wants to watch your baby'due south heartbeat while your uterus contracts (squeezes together). This is chosen a contraction stress test. In that location are 2 ways to assist you lot have contractions for just a little while. First, your nipples will be warmed up. Sometimes this makes your uterus get-go contracting for a little while. If that doesn't work, you could accept a special medicine (either oxytocin or pitocin), to make your uterus contract but for a little while.

What happens if a test isn't normal?

If 1 of the tests isn't normal, your medico may want to do other tests. Your doctor may too endeavour to start your labor early (induce labor) if you lot might take a problem.

What will the doctor do to assist my baby?

If your babe is very small when it'south born, your doctor can give it oxygen through a nose tube, fluids through a tube in a vein and, sometimes, antibiotics.

What can I do to assistance my babe?

You can exercise 5 important things to help your babe abound big plenty before it'due south built-in:

1. If you fume—quit at present. Cigarettes hurt the placenta, which is your baby's merely way to get "food." Information technology'south never as well belatedly to quit smoking. Babies proceeds one half of their weight in the last three months before beingness born.

2. If yous drink booze—quit now. Even 1 drink a day makes it more likely that you will have a small baby. You could even have a baby with brain damage caused past the alcohol. This can happen in all months of pregnancy.

3. If you use illegal drugs—quit now. Almost all illegal drugs brand babies likewise small to exist strong and healthy. Yous may need your doctor's assistance to quit and then you don't have withdrawal issues.

4. Swallow a good nutrition. Ask your medico to tell you lot the best foods to eat.

5. Go on all your appointments for doctor visits and tests.

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This handout is provided to you by your family doctor and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Other health-related information is available from the AAFP online at http://familydoctor.org.

This information provides a full general overview and may non apply to everyone. Talk to your family dr. to find out if this information applies to you and to go more than information on this subject.

Copyright © 1998 by the American Academy of Family unit Physicians.
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