Identification

• When a baby is smaller than expected during pregnancy, he may have intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). This medical term simply means the baby is not growing at a normal or expected rate. Often, babies who have intrauterine growth restriction go on to be born at lower-than-normal birth weights. According to MedlinePlus, a baby with IUGR is below the tenth percentile for gestational age, which is the age of the fetus, counted from the beginning of the mother's last menstrual period.
  
  

Effects

• A baby with intrauterine growth restriction may face a range of health problems, both at birth and in the period that follows. For example, since these babies are often smaller than normal, they may have a hard time dealing with the physical stress of vaginal birth. A baby with IUGR has a greater risk of being stillborn, have low blood sugar at birth, have higher-than-normal red blood cell counts, have trouble resisting infection and have difficulty maintaining normal body temperature.
  
  

Considerations

• Sometimes problems with the placenta--which is in charge of delivering food, blood and oxygen to the unborn baby--lead to IUGR, as the baby doesn't get adequate nutrients. Sometimes birth defects and/or inherited disorders are at fault. In some cases, the condition appears in the babies of women with health issues that may interfere with normal functions inside the body, such as high blood pressure, sickle cell anemia and heart disease. A baby may develop IUGR if his mother abuses alcohol or drugs, and in some cases, the condition may even develop in the unborn babies of women who are taking drugs prescribed by a physician.
  
  

Misconceptions

• Women often feel guilty when they discover that their babies have intrauterine growth restriction, worrying that they caused the condition in some way. According to FamilyDoctor, however, most cases of the condition are not caused by the mother, and there's little she could have done to prevent its development. As long as a pregnant woman is not drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes or abusing drugs, she is most likely not at fault.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• Since IUGR increases a baby's risk for dying in the uterus, frequent ultrasounds are typically used to monitor the baby's health throughout the pregnancy. The treatment plan may include better management of the mother's medical conditions and ensuring the adequate intake of nutritious foods. In some cases, it may be necessary to deliver the baby through a Caesarean section (C-section) to avoid the stress of vaginal delivery.