Diagnosis, Risks And Possible Reasons

I m a g e : Shutterstock

W h a t do w e say w h e n people a s k us, “ W h o do y o u want, a son o r a d a u g h t e r ? ” Most t o – b e – m o m s have j u s t one a n s w e r : “Doesn’t m a t t e r , I j u s t want a healthy b a b y . ” Isn’t i t ? The w e l l n e s s of t h e fetus i s that i m p o r t a n t for i t s mother.

D o you k n o w that e v e n after t a k i n g proper c a r e during p r e g n a n c y the f e t u s could, s o m e t i m e s , grow s l o w ? MomJunction t e l l s you a b o u t the c a u s e s of s l o w fetal g r o w t h , the p o s s i b l e risks, a n d the p r e v e n t i v e measures y o u can t a k e .

W h a t Is S l o w Fetal G r o w t h ?

S l o w fetal g r o w t h is a l s o known a s intrauterine g r o w t h restriction ( I U G R ) , which i s a c o n d i t i o n signifying t h e slow g r o w t h of a baby d u r i n g pregnancy. I n this c o n d i t i o n , the s i z e of t h e baby i s smaller t h a n the a v e r a g e size a t that p r e g n a n c y age ( 1 ) .

D i f f e r e n t types o f IUGRs d u r i n g pregnancy

R e a s o n s For S l o w Growth O f Fetus D u r i n g Pregnancy

T h e causes o f IUGR a r e segregated i n t o three b r o a d categories: maternal, f e t a l and p l a c e n t a l (2).

M a t e r n a l health i s important f o r the b a b y to g e t all t h e essential n u t r i e n t s for i t s growth.

F e t a l health i s necessary t o make s u r e the b a b y receives t h e nutrients s u p p l i e d by t h e mother.

T h e placenta s h o u l d be h e a l t h y enough t o carry t h e nutrients f r o m the m o t h e r to t h e fetus.

A l l the f a c t o r s mentioned b e l o w fall i n t o one o f the t h r e e categories:

Preeclampsia: During p r e g n a n c y , your b l o o d pressure i s constantly m o n i t o r e d to c h e c k for p r e e c l a m p s i a (also c a l l e d as p r e g n a n c y – i n d u c e d hypertension o r PIH). A n increased b l o o d pressure m a y indicate p r e e c l a m p s i a , which c o m p r e s s e s the v e i n s . Compressed v e i n s restrict t h e flow o f blood t o the p l a c e n t a , cutting d o w n on t h e supply o f sufficient o x y g e n and s u p p l e m e n t s to t h e fetus, t h e r e b y leading t o slow f e t a l growth ( 3 ) .

M u l t i p l e pregnancies: In s o m e cases o f multiple p r e g n a n c i e s , the s l o w fetal d e v e l o p m e n t is b e c a u s e of t h e inefficiency o f the p l a c e n t a to m e e t the n u t r i t i o n a l demands o f the m u l t i p l e babies. M o r e o v e r , the c h a n c e s of p r e e c l a m p s i a are a l s o high i n multiple p r e g n a n c i e s . IUGR o c c u r s in 2 5 – 3 0 % of t w i n pregnancies ( 4 ) .

Infections: Any i n f e c t i o n s transferred f r o m the m o t h e r during p r e g n a n c y can l e a d to s l o w fetal g r o w t h . Infections s u c h as s y p h i l i s (a s e x u a l l y transmitted b a c t e r i a l infection), t o x o p l a s m o s i s (a p a r a s i t i c infection t r a n s m i t t e d mainly t h r o u g h under-cooked m e a t ) , cytomegalovirus ( v i r a l infection w i t h significant i m p a c t during p r e g n a n c y due t o weaker i m m u n i t y ) , and r u b e l l a (German m e a s l e s ) increase t h e chances o f IUGR ( 5 ) .

L o w e r level o f amniotic f l u i d s : It i s necessary t o have s u f f i c i e n t amniotic f l u i d in t h e sac f o r normal f e t a l development t o happen. H o w e v e r , low f l u i d level ( a l s o termed a s oligohydramnios) c a n lead t o fetal g r o w t h restriction ( 6 ) . Various f a c t o r s , including t h e health o f the m o t h e r , certain m e d i c a t i o n s , and a slight r u p t u r e of t h e amniotic s a c cause t h e fluid l e v e l s to d e p l e t e .

P l a c e n t a l insufficiency: In t h i s condition, t h e placenta d o e s not w o r k properly. T h i s leads t o insufficient s u p p l y of o x y g e n and n u t r i e n t s to t h e baby f r o m its m o t h e r , resulting i n slow g r o w t h (7).

A b n o r m a l i t i e s of t h e umbilical c o r d : The c o r d connects t h e fetus w i t h the p l a c e n t a . It c o n t a i n s one u m b i l i c a l vein a n d two u m b i l i c a l arteries, w h i c h carry b l o o d between t h e fetus a n d the p l a c e n t a . However, i f there i s only o n e artery i n the u m b i l i c a l cord, t h e n this a b n o r m a l i t y leads t o fetal g r o w t h restriction ( 8 ) .

7 . Other m a t e r n a l and f e t a l reasons i n c l u d e :

t h e small s i z e of t h e mother

m o t h e r ’ s nutritional i n t a k e during p r e g n a n c y

a b n o r m a l shape o r size o f the w o m b

c o n d i t i o n s related t o blood v e s s e l s such a s recurrent b l e e d i n g and d i a b e t e s mellitus

c h r o n i c illness i n the m o t h e r such a s sickle c e l l disease

c h r o m o s o m a l abnormalities s u c h as T u r n e r Syndrome a n d Down S y n d r o m e in t h e fetus

g e n e t i c and s k e l e t a l abnormalities i n the f e t u s

S l o w fetal g r o w t h can a l s o occur d u e to t h e lifes t y l e of t h e mother, s u c h as i f she:

i s exposed t o high d o s e s of r a d i a t i o n or c h e m i c a l s (11)

D u r i n g your a n t e n a t a l checkup, t h e doctor w i l l measure t h e fundal h e i g h t to d e t e r m i n e the s i z e of t h e baby.

Y o u r baby’s s i z e will b e monitored t h r o u g h o u t the p r e g n a n c y , and t h e measurements w i l l be p u t on a growth c h a r t . If t h e doctor f i n d s any a b n o r m a l i t y , she d o e s an u l t r a s o u n d scan t o measure t h e baby’s g r o w t h accurately.

F e t a l growth m e a s u r e m e n t is i m p o r t a n t because s l o w growth c o u l d lead t o certain h e a l t h problems i n the b a b y .

R i s k s of s l o w fetal g r o w t h (IUGR)

B a b i e s with I U G R have i n c r e a s e d chances o f getting h e a l t h issues b o t h before a n d after b i r t h . The r i s k s include ( 1 2 ) , (13):

P r o b l e m s with b r e a t h i n g and f e e d i n g

D e c r e a s e d ability t o fight i n f e c t i o n

H y p o g l y c e m i a (low b l o o d sugar l e v e l )

L o w Apgar S c o r e s (Apgar s c o r e is a test c a r r i e d out t o evaluate t h e physical c o n d i t i o n of t h e newborn a n d to d e t e r m i n e any i m m e d i a t e need o f medical c a r e . The s c o r e is d e t e r m i n e d on a scale o f 0 t o 2, w i t h 2 b e i n g the b e s t )

A b n o r m a l l y high r e d blood c e l l count

T r o u b l e in m a i n t a i n i n g the b o d y temperature

I n order t o avoid t h e s e risks i n the b a b y , the d o c t o r measures t h e fetal g r o w t h regularly w h e n you g o for h e a l t h check-ups.

H o w Is S l o w Fetal G r o w t h Diagnosed?

T h e fetal s i z e can b e estimated b y measuring t h e fundal h e i g h t . However, t h e r e are o t h e r procedures t o diagnose I U G R and a s s e s s the b a b y ’ s health:

Ultrasound: An u l t r a s o u n d uses s o u n d waves t o create i m a g e s of t h e baby’s s t r u c t u r e and m e a s u r e its h e a d and a b d o m e n . These m e a s u r e m e n t s are c o m p a r e d with t h e growth c h a r t to e s t i m a t e the f e t a l weight.

D o p p l e r flow: The t e c h n i q u e is u s e d to m e a s u r e the s p e e d and a m o u n t of b l o o d flow i n t o the b l o o d vessels o f the f e t a l brain a n d the u m b i l i c a l cord, u s i n g sound w a v e s .

W e i g h t checks: It i s another w a y of e s t i m a t i n g the f e t a l growth. D u r i n g every p r e n a t a l visit, t h e doctor w i l l check a n d record t h e mother’s w e i g h t . If t h e expecting w o m a n is n o t gaining a p p r o p r i a t e weight, i t could r e s u l t in f e t u s ’ slow g r o w t h .

F e t a l monitoring: A n o n – s t r e s s test i s carried o u t by p l a c i n g a s e n s i t i v e belt a r o u n d the m o t h e r ’ s abdomen. T h e s e belts h a v e transducers a t t a c h e d to a n external m o n i t o r . The s e n s o r s measure t h e pattern a n d rate o f fetal h e a r t b e a t , which g e t s displayed o n the m o n i t o r (13).

Amniocentesis: The t e s t involves t h e collection o f a s m a l l amount o f amniotic f l u i d through a needle. T h e fluid s a m p l e is t e s t e d for a n y infection o r chromosomal a b n o r m a l i t y , which c a n lead t o slow g r o w t h of f e t u s (14).

S l o w fetal g r o w t h can b e effectively m a n a g e d in e x p e c t i n g mothers t h r o u g h regular c h e c k u p s and h e a l t h y lifestyle.

H o w is I U G R managed?

I U G R is m a n a g e d based o n its s e v e r i t y (15):

A t stage 0 , you a r e treated a s an o u t p a t i e n t with D o p p l e r test d o n e every t w o weeks. I f the r e s u l t s are c o n s i s t e n t , your d e l i v e r y can b e at t e r m . But i f the D o p p l e r results a r e abnormal, t h e fetus m o v e s to S t a g e I.

S t a g e I, t o o , requires o u t p a t i e n t care, i f you d o not h a v e preeclampsia, b u t you m a y have t o see t h e doctor t w i c e a w e e k . You c o u l d be g i v e n antenatal c o r t i c o s t e r o i d s during d i a g n o s i s , and y o u would b e done a non-stress t e s t i n g (NST).

I n stage I I , you h a v e to g e t admitted a s an i n p a t i e n t as y o u need t o undergo a n t e n a t a l testing t w i c e a d a y . If t h e test r e s u l t s are c o n s i s t e n t , then t h e delivery i s recommended a t 34 w e e k s . However, i f they a r e fluctuating, t h e n the h e a l t h c a r e provider m i g h t recommend a n immediate C – s e c t i o n delivery.

I n the c a s e of s t a g e III I U G R , delivery i s done a t 32 w e e k s gestation.

I f your d o c t o r suspects I U G R , then:

Y o u will h a v e regular s c a n s to c h e c k your b a b y ’ s growth. W i t h a D o p p l e r test, t h e amount o f blood f l o w from t h e placenta t o the f e t u s is c h e c k e d .

I f there i s any c o n c e r n about t h e fetal g r o w t h , your d o c t o r will r e c o m m e n d CTG m o n i t o r i n g , regular s c a n s , and c o n s u l t a n t appointments.

Y o u will b e advised t o monitor t h e movements o f your b a b y closely.

I f growth r e s t r i c t i o n is s e v e r e , then t h e doctor m a y recommend a n early d e l i v e r y by C – s e c t i o n (16) a s vaginal d e l i v e r y would b e stressful. I n such c a s e , your b a b y will b e put i n the n e o n a t a l care u n i t , where i t can g r o w better t h a n inside y o u r womb.

A b o v e all, y o u need t o take c a r e of y o u r s e l f by e a t i n g nutritious f o o d and t a k i n g ample r e s t .

W h a t should y o u do i n the c a s e of I U G R ?

V i s i t your d o c t o r regularly a n d get c a r e f u l l y checked. C l o s e l y monitor y o u r baby’s m o v e m e n t patterns. I f your b a b y does n o t move v e r y often, c o n t a c t your d o c t o r and f o l l o w their i n s t r u c t i o n s .

A s k your d o c t o r several q u e s t i o n s such a s ,

W h a t activities s h o u l d you a v o i d ?

W h a t precautions s h o u l d you t a k e ?

W h a t symptoms o r problems y o u should w a t c h out f o r ?

T h e r e is l i t t l e you c a n do t o control I U G R , but c e r t a i n lifes t y l e changes c o u l d be o f help.

H o w to p r e v e n t IUGR?

T h e below m e a s u r e s can r e d u c e the r i s k of I U G R :

E a t a h e a l t h y diet. H e a l t h y foods p r o v i d e proper n o u r i s h m e n t to y o u r baby.

Q u i t smoking a n d drinking a l c o h o l during p r e g n a n c y .

L i m i t the i n t a k e of c a f f e i n e .

C h e c k with y o u r doctor i f any m e d i c a t i o n s that y o u are t a k i n g pose a risk o f IUGR.

G e t plenty o f rest a n d keep s t r e s s at b a y . Try t o get a t least e i g h t hours o f sleep e v e r y day.

S l o w fetal g r o w t h is n o t in y o u r hands. B u t what y o u can d o is h a v e a h e a l t h y lifes t y l e , exercise a n d keep a w a y from u n h e a l t h y habits s u c h as s m o k i n g . Talk t o your d o c t o r and f o l l o w their i n s t r u c t i o n s . If t h e fetal g r o w t h is s t i l l slow, a l l you c a n do i s wait f o r the b a b y to c o m e out o f your w o m b . Breastfeeding a n d careful n u r t u r i n g could h e l p you d o the d a m a g e control.

H a v e an e x p e r i e n c e to s h a r e ? Leave a comment b e l o w .

R e c o m m e n d e d Articles:

IncnutIncnutIncnut

Search This Blog

Hi Baby Name