What is iugr mean

Get Permissions. Read the Issue. Sign Up Now. Previous: Do I Have Diabetes? Oct 15, Issue. Am Fam Physician. What is IUGR? Why is my baby small? The mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. The mother had high blood pressure during pregnancy.

The mother had infections during pregnancy. The baby has chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome. The mother used certain medicines during pregnancy. The mother is small less than 5 feet tall or weighing less than pounds. Why is my baby's size important? What tests might be done on my baby? What happens if a test isn't normal?

What will the doctor do to help my baby? What can I do to help my baby? Eat a good diet. Ask your doctor to tell you the best foods to eat. Keep all your appointments for doctor visits and tests. Read the full article. Get immediate access, anytime, anywhere. Choose a single article, issue, or full-access subscription. Earn up to 6 CME credits per issue. Purchase Access: See My Options close. Best Value!

To see the full article, log in or purchase access. Email Alerts Don't miss a single issue. Sign up for the free AFP email table of contents. If the baby's mother has a condition, doctors will help her manage it. This might include making sure she eats a healthy and nutritious diet and gains the right amount of weight during her pregnancy. Some women might go on bed rest to try to improve blood flow to the baby. Sometimes, doctors will recommend inducing labor and delivery early. They might do this if the baby seems to have stopped growing, or if there's a problem with the placenta or the blood flow in the umbilical cord.

A woman might have a cesarean section C-section if the stress of a vaginal delivery is considered too risky for the baby. Babies with IUGR are more at risk for some kinds of health problems. Those born early or who are very small at birth are more likely to need to stay in the hospital for a longer time. They also might need special care in the neonatal intensive care unit the NICU.

If your baby might have IUGR, follow your doctor's advice and go to all prenatal visits and testing appointments. This helps your doctor see how your baby is developing and growing. Pregnancies that have any of the following conditions may be at a greater risk at developing IUGR:.

One of the most important things when diagnosing IUGR is to ensure accurate dating of the pregnancy. Gestational age can be calculated by using the first day of your last menstrual period LMP and also by early ultrasound calculations. Once gestational age has been established, the following methods can be used to diagnose IUGR:.

Despite new research, the optimal treatment for IUGR remains problematic. Most likely the treatment will depend on how far along you are in your pregnancy. Compiled using information from the following sources:. Williams Obstetrics Twenty-Second Ed. Cunningham, F. Gary, et al, Ch. Scott, James R. Olds, Sally B. It features meal recommendations, kicks counter, blood glucose tracking, and more.

Are there different types of IUGR? Asymmetric or secondary IUGR is characterized by the head and brain being normal in size, but the abdomen is smaller.