If a newborn was born with a small weight compared to the norm for his gestational age, then this phenomenon is called the fetal development delay syndrome. The diagnosis is made only if the weight of the baby is below the norm (3 - 3, 5 kg) is not less than ten percent.
Causes of retarded fetal development
The most common factors for the appearance of the syndrome of intrauterine growth retardation are:
- anemia in pregnant women;
- smoking during pregnancy (lag in the growth of the baby directly in proportion to the number of cigarettes smoked);
- alcoholism;
- an increase in the weight of the mother or vice versa, insufficient weight gain (below the average);
- diseases of the vascular system;
- high blood pressure;
- kidney disease;
- prolonged hypoxia of the fetus (especially often manifested in children whose mothers lived for a long time in an area that is high above sea level, especially in mountainous areas);
- multiple pregnancies ;
infections with prolonged exposure, transmitted to the fetus; - abnormalities of the umbilical cord or placenta;
- a delayed pregnancy.
Consequences of intrauterine growth retardation
If the delay in the development of the fetus is on the 1st degree, it means that the baby lags behind the normal development for two weeks. It practically does not threaten his life and health. But when the delay in development spread to 2 or 3 degrees - this is already cause for concern. Consequences of such a process can be hypoxia ( oxygen starvation ), anomalies in development and even fetal death.
But do not despair immediately, because even if the baby was born with insufficient weight, but he was followed by proper and thorough care for several weeks after childbirth, then in the future with the baby everything will be in order.