The most common reason why a baby is smaller than average — weighing less than 2.5kg at birth — is prematurity (being born before 37 weeks’ gestation). The earlier the baby is born, the smaller they are likely to be. This is because the baby will have had less time in the womb to grow.
What could cause a baby to be small in the womb?
The most common reasons for a baby to be small are the following: The mother smoked cigarettes during pregnancy. The mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. The mother had high blood pressure during pregnancy.
What does it mean if your baby is measuring small?
Some babies are small because their parents are small. But most babies who are small for gestational age have growth problems that happen during pregnancy. When the unborn baby does not get enough oxygen or nutrients during pregnancy, they don’t grow as much as normal. The condition is often suspected before birth.
Should I worry if baby is measuring small?
No, there’s not necessarily anything wrong if your baby is small for dates. Babies grow at different rates and some are simply smaller than average. Measurements aren’t always accurate either. Your midwife may offer you a growth scan though, to be on the safe side.
What happens if baby is small at growth scan?
What does being small mean for my baby? If your baby is small but healthy, he or she is not at increased risk of complications. If your baby is growth restricted, there is an increased risk of stillbirth (the baby dying in the womb), serious illness and dying shortly after birth.
How do I know if my baby is developing normally in the womb?
An ultrasound is usually done for all pregnant women at 20 weeks. During this ultrasound, the doctor will make sure that the placenta is healthy and attached normally and that your baby is growing properly. You can see the baby’s heartbeat and movement of its body, arms, and legs on the ultrasound.
What to do if baby is measuring small?
If the measurement (fundal height) is smaller than your due date indicates it should be (this is called “small for dates”), she’ll follow up with an ultrasound to pinpoint your baby’s size and weight. You may measure small because your due date (based on your last period) is wrong.
What does it mean when your belly is measuring small during pregnancy?
Why might I be measuring “small for gestational age”? Measuring small for gestational age means your fundal height is more than 3 centimeters smaller than expected for your stage of pregnancy. Your provider may order an ultrasound to confirm your due date, in case you’re not as far along as you thought.
Can a small fetus catch up?
Most babies born too small for their gestational age catch up over the first two or three years of life. However, in about a third, complete catch-up growth does not occur.
How can I increase fetal growth?
Conclusions. An increased intake of fruits and vegetables or vitamin C at mid-pregnancy is associated with increased fetal growth and infant growth up to 6 months of age.
Do Down syndrome babies measure small?
Short stature is a well-recognized component of Down syndrome. The femur lengths of affected fetuses have been observed to be shorter than normal, with a ratio of actual to expected femur length of less than 0.91 indicating a high risk of trisomy.
Will they deliver baby early if not growing?
If your baby has IUGR, you may give birth early. But the time of delivery depends on how well your baby is doing. Sometimes, babies with IUGR keep growing in the uterus. If your baby keeps gaining some weight, an early delivery may not be needed.