Investigation and management of the small for gestational age fetus

Bullough, Siân, Navaratnam, Kate and Sharp, Andrew ORCID: 0000-0003-3396-7464 (2020) Investigation and management of the small for gestational age fetus. Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Reproductive Medicine, 31 (1). pp. 1-7. ISSN 1751-7214, 1879-3622

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Abstract

The desire to identify the small for gestational age fetus is due to its association with stillbirth and poorer neonatal outcomes. The difficulty lies in determining which of these babies are just constitutionally small and healthy and which are growth restricted fetuses that are at significant risk of poor outcomes. Fetal growth restriction is often mediated through placental disease and shares a similar aetiological pathway to preeclampsia. Placental malperfusion results in impaired nutrient and oxygen delivery to the fetus. Appropriate risk assessment in early pregnancy and monitoring with symphysis fundal height measurement or ultrasound scans is a crucial part of the screening pathway. There is no effective treatment for growth restriction, so management is based on close monitoring and early delivery. Fetal growth restriction has better defined monitoring and delivery timing guidelines whereas it is more unclear and variable for fetuses considered only to be small for gestational age.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	3213 Paediatrics, 3215 Reproductive Medicine, 32 Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Pregnancy, Contraception/Reproduction, Pediatric, Preterm, Low Birth Weight and Health of the Newborn, Maternal Health, Perinatal Period - Conditions Originating in Perinatal Period, Prevention, Conditions Affecting the Embryonic and Fetal Periods, Women's Health, 4.2 Evaluation of markers and technologies, Reproductive health and childbirth, 3 Good Health and Well Being
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	13 Jan 2021 11:51
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 18:02
DOI:	10.1016/j.ogrm.2020.11.002
Related Websites:	Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3111596