Delayed intrauterine growth occurs when, for various reasons, fetal development does not occur at the proper rate. If this happens, the consequences can be very negative. Since there is a higher risk of complications in the perinatal period, even in the worst cases, the outcome could be fatal. The perinatal period is the one that elapses from the 28th week of gestation to the seventh day of the baby's life outside the womb.
Babies with stunted intrauterine growth are usually born weighing less than what is considered to be within the average. In fact, it is more common to use other expressions such as "underweight baby" or "small for gestational age" to refer to children born with this complication. This will depend on the weight with which the baby is born, since there are different parameters to define the child's condition.
In the case of underweight babies, those born with a weight equal to or less than 2 kilos are included. Regardless of whether the little one is born full-term or if on the contrary it is premature. As for babies who are considered small for their gestational age, are babies who are below the 10th percentile but do not have any disorders In its development. In this case, the baby is simply small.
Causes of retarded intrauterine growth
The weight that the baby reaches during its development in the womb depends on several factors. On the one hand there is the genetic factor, Generally, the children of large parents are born large, and the same happens with the opposite case. You also have to take into account factors such as the race or the living conditions in which the little one is born.
But in addition to the genetic component, it must be taken into account that a very important part of the baby's growth depends on various environmental factors, that is, the mother, the placenta, the uterus and the fetus.
Mother-related causes
The mother's care is essential for the child to develop optimally. Feeding, the use of harmful substances or the use of medications, directly affect the growth and development of the fetus.
But in addition, there are other external factors that affect the fetus through the mother, for example:
- Live in high altitude areas, since in this situation the amount of oxygen that is breathed is less.
- Pollution existing in many cities adversely affects the health of the baby.
Even social conditions of the mother influence the growth of the child:
- Poor nutrition is one of the main causes of low birth weight
- Some jobs that require effort unhealthy in pregnancy
As well possible diseases of the mother, such as:
- Some Metabolic diseases They are the cause of the baby not being able to properly receive the nutrients it needs for its proper growth.
- Cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and coronary problems also affect the growth of the fetus in the womb.
Precautionary measures
Today there are great scientific advances, which allow medicine to warn of problems and possible diseases in time. Thanks to that, pregnancies are highly controlled and it is possible to detect intrauterine growth retarded in time. This allows that in many cases preventive measures can be taken and prevent the baby from suffering the consequences of being born with low weight.
Although there are many factors that are not in your hand, you can do many things to prevent these types of complications in your pregnancy. Taking care of yourself is the main and most important thing you should do, follow a varied and balanced diet. You should also eliminate the consumption of substances such as tobacco, alcohol and other very harmful substances.
But not only that, it is essential that You regularly go to your medical check-ups. So that, in the event of a complication such as the one mentioned, the doctor can warn you in advance and remedy it as soon as possible. Do not forget to go to all scheduled appointments, and whenever you notice something different in your pregnancy, go to your doctor to assess the situation.