Delivery: If IUGR endangers the health of the fetus, then an early delivery may be necessary.Improved technology and advances in clinical testing have resulted in increased detection rates of congenital anomalies during pregnancy, resulting in more parents being confronted with the possibility of terminating a pregnancy for this reason.Bedrest: Bedrest in the hospital or at home may help improve circulation to the fetus.Nutrition: Some studies have shown that increasing maternal nutrition may increase gestational weight gain and fetal growth.Doppler flow studies: Type of ultrasound which use sound waves to measure blood flow.Īlthough it is not possible to reverse IUGR, some treatments may help slow or minimize the effects, including:.Ultrasounds are used to follow fetal growth. Ultrasound: Ultrasounds are used to view internal organs as they function, and to assess blood flow through various vessels.Biophysical profile: A test that combines the nonstress test with an ultrasound to evaluate fetal well-being.Nonstress testing: A test that watches the fetal heart rate for increases with fetal movements, a sign of fetal well-being.A change in the number or frequency may mean the fetus is under stress. Fetal movement counting: Keeping track of fetal kicks and movements.Some of the ways to watch for potential problems include the following: Careful monitoring of a fetus with IUGR and ongoing testing may be needed. Generally, the earlier and more severe the growth restriction, the greater the risks to the fetus. Management of IUGR depends on the severity of growth restriction, and how early the problem began in the pregnancy. How is intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) managed? Small maternal weight gains in pregnancy may correspond with a small baby. Mother's weight gain: A mother's weight gain can also indicate a baby's size.Blood vessels in the fetal brain and the umbilical cord blood flow can be checked with Doppler flow studies. The sound of moving blood produces wave-forms that reflect the speed and amount of the blood as it moves through a blood vessel. Doppler flow: Another way to interpret and diagnose IUGR during pregnancy is Doppler flow, which use sound waves to measure blood flow.The fetal abdominal circumference is a helpful indicator of fetal nutrition. Measurements can be taken of the fetus' head and abdomen and compared with a growth chart to estimate fetal weight. Ultrasound: Ultrasound (a test using sound waves to create a picture of internal structures) is a more accurate method of estimating fetal size.Other diagnostic procedures may include the following: If the measurement is low for the number of weeks, the baby may be smaller than expected. This measurement in centimeters usually corresponds with the number of weeks of pregnancy after the 20th week. The height of the fundus (the top of a mother's uterus) can be measured from the pubic bone. How is intrauterine growth restriction diagnosed?ĭuring pregnancy, fetal size can be estimated in different ways. multiple gestation (twins, triplets, etc.).infection in the tissues around the fetusįactors related to the developing baby (fetus):.placenta previa (placenta attaches low in the uterus).placental abruption (placenta detaches from the uterus).decreased blood flow in the uterus and placenta.Some factors that may contribute to IUGR include the following:įactors involving thee uterus and placenta: This may occur when the fetus does not receive the necessary nutrients and oxygen needed for growth and development of organs and tissues, or because of infection. Intrauterine growth restriction results when a problem or abnormality prevents cells and tissues from growing or causes cells to decrease in size. What causes intrauterine growth restriction? This can cause the fetal heart rate to decrease, placing the baby at great risk. When there is not enough blood flow through the placenta, the fetus may only receive low amounts of oxygen. With IUGR, the growth of the baby's overall body and organs are limited, and tissue and organ cells may not grow as large or as numerous. Late-onset growth restriction (after 32 weeks) is usually related to other problems. Early-onset IUGR is often due to chromosomal abnormalities, maternal disease, or severe problems with the placenta. A fetus with IUGR often has an estimated fetal weight that is less than the 10th percentile, or less than 90 percent of all other fetuses of the same gestational age. Intrauterine growth restriction is a term used to describe a condition in which the fetus is smaller than expected for the number of weeks of pregnancy. What is intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)?
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