INTRAUTERINE GROWTH RETARDATION

Deviations from normal intrauterine growth are associated with increased perinatal morbidity and mortality rates. In part, this reflects the fact that growth at any stage in development depends upon the ability of the individual to meet successfully the challenges of a wide variety of environmental factors. In human fetal life, these include the impact of critical aspects of maternal-fetal interaction: the capacity of the mother to sustain the products of conception, the capacity of the placenta to support the fetus and the capacity of the fetus to adapt to its environment. Measures used to assess growth and factors affecting fetal growth such as parity, pregnancy history, maternal height and weight, fetal sex, placental size, multiple gestation, high altitude and maternal drug usage are discussed. Intrapartum and postpartum problems in growth-retarded infants, later growth and intellectual outcome and suggestions for management of this condition are included in this study.