What is
intrauterine growth restriction ?
Intrauterine growth
restriction ("IUGR," for short) is a term for a baby who is smaller
than normal during pregnancy. The baby is not growing inside the
uterus at the normal rate. These babies usually have a low weight at
birth.
What causes IUGR?
IUGR has various
causes. The most common cause is a problem in the placenta (the
tissue that carries food and blood to the baby). Birth defects and
genetic disorders can also cause IUGR. If the mother has an
infection, high blood pressure, is smoking, drinking alcohol or
abusing drugs, her baby might have IUGR. Sometimes a prescribed
medicine that the mother is taking causes IUGR.
Did I cause this
problem?
Most of the causes
of IUGR are beyond your control. Usually, nothing the mother did
causes IUGR in her baby. But if you smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol
or abuse drugs, you can cause IUGR in your baby.
Do all small
babies have IUGR?
No. About one-third
of the babies who are small at birth have IUGR. The rest of them
don't have IUGR--they're just smaller than normal. Just like there
are different sizes of infants, children and adults, there are also
different sizes of babies in the uterus. Small babies tend to run in
families. The parents or other children in the family may have been
small when they were born, too.
How will I know if
my baby is just small or has IUGR?
During your
pregnancy, your doctor will do tests to find out if your baby is
growing normally. The main test for checking a baby's growth in the
uterus is an ultrasound. The ultrasound exam lets your doctor "see"
your baby in your uterus with an instrument that is moved across
your abdomen (belly).
While you are
having an ultrasound exam, your doctor will measure the size of your
baby's head, abdomen and legs. These measurements will tell you and
your doctor if your baby is growing normally. Your doctor will also
find out the amount of amniotic fluid in your uterus. In some babies
with growth restriction, the amount of amniotic fluid is low. If
your baby is small, ultrasound exams may be done more often than
usual to check your baby's health.
Are there other
tests I might have?
One test is fetal
monitoring. It's a way to check your baby's health inside your womb.
Straps are put over your uterus as you lie down for about 30 minutes.
You will hear your baby's heart beat as it is recorded. Your doctor
can look at the heartbeat recording and see if your baby's heartbeat
is normal.
You might also have
an amniocentesis. A needle is put through your skin into your uterus.
A few teaspoons of amniotic fluid are withdrawn in the needle. The
fluid is tested to see if it shows the cause of the IUGR. The
amniotic fluid might show genetic problems or infection.
If my baby has
IUGR, will I have to give birth early?
Maybe not. The time
of delivery depends on how well your baby is doing. Sometimes,
babies with IUGR keep on growing in the uterus. If your baby keeps
gaining some weight, an early delivery (before the due date) may not
be needed. But if your baby is not growing at all or has other
problems, your doctor may decide that an early delivery could help.
In this case, your doctor may want to induce labor. Your baby's
heart rate and movements will be closely watched to help you and
your doctor make this decision.
Will I need to
have a cesarean section?
If there are no
signs of problems with your baby during labor, a vaginal delivery is
OK. Some babies with IUGR are weak. The stress of labor and delivery
may be too much for a weak baby. If your baby has problems during
labor, a cesarean section (also called a C section) may be safer.
If I have another
baby, will that baby also have IUGR?
Generally, no. IUGR
usually doesn't occur in another pregnancy. But in some women, it
does happen again. Women who have another pregnancy affected by IUGR
usually have an illness, such as hypertension, that causes IUGR.
Good control of illnesses before and during pregnancy lowers the
risk of having another baby with IUGR.
Will my baby need
to stay in the hospital longer than usual?
Probably,
especially if your baby was born early. Babies who are small at
birth need to stay in the hospital until they can breathe and feed
normally. After your baby is born, the doctor will check your baby's
weight to make sure the baby is growing. Generally, babies stay in
the hospital until they weigh about 5 pounds and can breathe and
feed normally.
Will my baby grow
up to be normal in height?
Yes. Your baby will
probably catch up in size and have a normal height by about 2 years
of age.
What can I do to
help my baby while I'm pregnant?
The best way to
help your baby is to pay attention to your baby's movements. Make
sure your baby is moving every day. A baby who moves around often is
usually healthy. A baby who doesn't move very often or who stops
moving may be sick. If you notice your baby isn't moving as much,
call your doctor.
Another way you can
help your baby is to get a lot of rest. Rest may help you feel
better. It may even help your baby grow. Try to get 8 hours of sleep
(or more) each night. An hour or 2 of rest in the afternoon is also
good for you. Your doctor may even want you to go to the hospital to
make sure you rest. The hospital staff will keep a close eye on you
and your baby. Finally, if you smoke, drink alcohol or use drugs,
stop now. These things can hurt your baby. This may be all that is
needed to improve your baby's health, as well as your own.
Resource: http://familydoctor.org
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