Why is Baby Not Growing: All about Intrauterine Growth Restriction

Intrauterine growth restriction, or IUGR is a condition wherein a baby is measured to be smaller than his or her normal size. The diagnosis will be based on the result of an ultrasound wherein a baby weighs lower (approximately 10th percentile down) for their age inside the mother’s womb.

While inside the mother’s womb, a baby may appear small because of certain factors. One of the known possibilities is that his or her parents might be small as well, and there are some babies who look small inside the mother’s womb but once they are born, they weigh normal. But in the case of babies diagnosed with IUGR, there are factors which hinder their growth, and the mother’s medical professional should be her partner in finding out these causes.

Some of the known factors which hinder the growth of the baby inside the womb include:

• Women who weigh less than what they are supposed to before they became pregnant, who also fails to gain the additional recommended weight during pregnancy.
  
  
• Severe undernourishment.
  
  
• When a woman is under certain medications that could affect the growth of the baby.
  
  
• Drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes and taking prohibited drugs.
  
  
• Multiple pregnancies.
  
  
• Birth defects which directly affect the baby’s growth.
  
  
• Medical conditions of the mother such as lung disease, diabetes, anemia, heart disease, preeclampsia, and high blood pressure.
  
  
• Placenta previa.
  
  
• Placental abruption.
  
  
• Other placental abnormalities which decreases the oxygen and nutrient supply to the baby.
  
  

Read more of our articles on pregnancy complications

High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy
Pregnancy Bleeding
Bleeding during Pregnancy
Obstetric Fistula
Over Due Pregnancy
Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction
Placental Abruption
Birth Defects
Ectopic Pregnancy
Blighted Ovum
Caesarean
Episiotomy
Vasa Previa
Placenta Previa
Bleeding in Early Pregnancy
Oligohydramnios
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
All about Previa
Leaking Amniotic Fluid
HELLP
Scant Amniotic Fluid: Is It a Problem?
Understanding Obstetric Cholestasis
Why is Baby Not Growing: All about Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Too Much Water (Polyhydramnios)
Pregnancy Complications that Contraindicate Sex
Macrosomia: Giving Birth to a Large Baby
Hypotension (Low Blood Pressure)during Pregnancy
Shoulder Dystocia
Preeclampsia and Eclampsia