Intrauterine growth restriction

Intrauterine growth restriction is failure of a fetus to reach its expected growth potential. It may result from placental dysfunction or maternal or fetal factors and differs from small size alone.

Placental insufficiency: A condition in which the placenta cannot adequately deliver oxygen and nutrients or remove waste for the fetus. Impaired placental exchange is a frequent pathway to restricted fetal growth.
Estimated fetal weight: A calculated approximation of fetal weight based on ultrasound measurements. Clinicians use serial estimates to identify fetuses that are small or growing slowly.
Small for gestational age: A fetal or newborn size below a specified percentile for gestational age, regardless of cause. Some small fetuses are healthy and constitutionally small rather than growth-restricted.
Stillbirth: The death of a fetus before or during birth, defined using jurisdiction-specific gestational or weight thresholds. Severe growth restriction is associated with increased risk of fetal death.
Fetal growth velocity: The rate at which fetal size changes across measurements during pregnancy. A slowing trajectory may reveal restriction that a single size measurement misses.
Uteroplacental insufficiency: Inadequate blood flow from the uterus through the placenta to support pregnancy. Reduced maternal blood supply can limit placental delivery of oxygen and nutrients.
Fetal growth chart: A chart comparing fetal size measurements with reference values for gestational age. The chosen reference helps determine whether measured size is unusually low.
Constitutional smallness: Small body size consistent with inherited traits and normal health rather than disease. Normal growth potential may be low without placental disease or fetal compromise.
Neonatal hypoglycemia: A newborn's blood glucose concentration falling below a clinically defined level. Limited fetal energy reserves can leave affected newborns vulnerable after birth.
Customized fetal growth chart: A fetal growth reference adjusted for characteristics such as parental size and maternal factors. Customized standards may distinguish healthy smallness from pathological restriction differently from population charts.

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