For Patients/Families

Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR)
A condition in which the fetus doesn’t grow as big as it should while in the uterus. These babies are small for their gestational age, and their birth weight is below the 10th percentile. IUGR can be caused by decreased blood flow to the placenta, maternal hypertension, drug use, smoking, poor weight gain, dieting during pregnancy, pre-eclampsia, alcoholism, multiple fetuses, abnormalities of the cord or placenta, prolonged pregnancy, chromosomal abnormalities, or a small placenta.

A baby with IUGR has a higher risk of serious health problems and infant mortality in the newborn period. Diagnosis can be difficult which is why it is important to be weighed at each prenatal appointment. The use of an ultrasound can also help detect IUGR. Treatment includes better nutrition through the remainder of the pregnancy, bedrest, a sometimes a C-section (these babies don’t tolerate labor well) and delivery before term (these babies have an increased risk of dying in utero before delivery).