Growth retardation

Every baby grows differently and has its own optimal birth weight. This weight depends on the gender, the number of weeks you are pregnant and how often you have been pregnant. Your height, weight and ethnic origin also influence the weight of the baby. 95% of your baby's weight gain occurs in the last 20 weeks of pregnancy. When the baby grows less rapidly than expected during this last period or when the baby is relatively too small for the gestational age, this is called growth retardation.

CAUSES

Growth retardation can have various causes:

  • Poorly functioning placenta (as a result of, for example, smoking or high blood pressure),
  • Chromosomal abnormality in the child,
  • Illness in the pregnant woman (e.g., chronic high blood pressure, severe kidney disease or diabetes) Infection (see also infectious diseases) Toxic substances (smoking, alcohol and drug use),
  • Multiple Pregnancy,
  • Underweight.

EFFECTS

A growth-retarded baby has an increased risk of several problems. The longer there is a growth slowdown, the greater this risk becomes. This is because growth-retarded children have fewer reserves in pregnancy, during childbirth and afterwards.

  • Oxygen deficiency during/after delivery,
  • Growth retardation in the first years of life,
  • Increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes,
  • Mortality if growth retardation is very severe and left untreated.

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY BABY LACKS IN GROWTH?

At every pregnancy checkup, the growth of your uterus is assessed by means of the obstetrician's external examination. If your midwife is unsure about growth, she will schedule an ultrasound to see if your baby is growing enough. If the growth retardation is confirmed by the ultrasound, we will send you for a check-up with the gynecologist.

In the hospital the cause of the growth retardation will be investigated. Ultrasounds can be used to check whether the blood flow from the umbilical cord to the baby is good (= Doppler test). This is important to assess whether the baby is still receiving sufficient oxygen and nutrients through the placenta. If the problem is not related to the blood flow to the placenta, then the cause will be further examined. In addition, the condition of the baby is monitored using CTGs. If it becomes dangerous for the baby to remain in your womb, the gynecologist will decide to induce labor.