This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Go to /pro/cpd-dashboard page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. CPD dashboard

Go to /account/subscription-details page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. Upgrade to Pro

IUGR

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

A foetus whose weight falls below the 10th centile for gestational age has intrauterine growth retardation. Small size may simply be a reflection the genetic growth potential for that foetus but often there is an underlying pathology.

Compared to a population with normal birthweight, IUGR babies have a ten-fold higher perinatal morbidity and mortality.

Poor maternal nutrition throughout pregnancy results in a symmetrically growth retarded baby.

Poor placental perfusion causes asymmetrical growth retardation. Classically, ultrasound scans in the third trimester show a normal increase in the biparietal diameter with an abdominal circumference which progressively falls away from the 10th centile. This head-sparing growth retardation is often associated with the placental insufficiency of pre-eclampsia.


Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.