Intrauterine growth restriction describes a fetus whose weight is below the 10th percentile for gestational age.

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) may be suspected if the size of the mother's uterus is small. The condition is usually confirmed by ultrasound. Many different things can lead to poor growth of a fetus.

An unborn baby may not get enough nutrition due to placenta problems, multiple pregnancies, heart disease in the mother, preeclampsia or eclampsia, and high altitudes.

Fetuses with congenital or chromosomal abnormalities are often associated with below-normal weight. Infections during pregnancy that affect the fetus, such as rubella, cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, and syphilis, may also affect fetal weight.

Risk factors in the mother that may contribute to intrauterine growth retardation include poor nutrition, heart disease or high blood pressure, smoking, drug addiction, and alcohol abuse. If the mother is small, it may be normal for her to have a small fetus, but this is not due to IUGR.

Depending on the cause of IUGR, the fetus may be symmetrically small, or have a head that is normal size for gestational age, while the remainder of the fetus is growth restricted.

• Currently pregnant with a feeling that the baby is not as big as it should be
• Uterine fundal height less than expected for gestational age

Prenatal examination may show that the fetus is small for the gestational age (the size of the uterus is less than the expected size for the weeks of pregnancy).

Tests for prenatal infection, congenital anomalies, or chromosomal abnormalities may be performed if IUGR is suspected.