Intrauterine growth retardation

Alternative names:

dysmaturity; low birth weight; small for gestational age

Symptoms:

• currently pregnant with a feeling that the baby is not as big as it should be
• infant is a small size for age but other physical characteristics are normal
• abdominal wall defects

Signs and tests:

Prenatal examination may show that the fetus is small for the gestational age (the size of the uterus is low compared to the expected size for the weeks of pregnancy).

Newborn physical examination shows weight below the 10th percentile for age. The length and head size may be below the 10th percentile for age. There are normal physical characteristics and behavior for age.

Tests for prenatal infection may be performed if growth retardation is suspected before a baby is born.