Fetal Size and Growth
One of the rituals of pregnancy is estimating the size of the baby. Everyone has an opinion. Does fetal size matter? The answer is that in some situations size or, perhaps more accurately, growth does matter. This article will review why size and fetal growth in a full term pregnancy is important. The topic of small babies born preterm or prematurely will be addressed in other articles on this website.
How is fetal size determined?
The accurate estimation of fetal size is actually quite difficult. An obstetrician has three tools he/she can use:
1) Some obstetricians deliver up to 600 babies a year and with each delivery they are estimating the size of the baby and comparing their estimates with the actual birth weight. The experience gained with so many deliveries usually results in an obstetrician’s estimate being quite accurate.
2) With each prenatal visit in the third trimester the doctor or nurse will measure the mother’s fundus, from her pubic bone to the top of her abdomen. This measurement, in centimeters, is referred to as the fundal height. The general rule of thumb is that the number of centimeters of fundal height should equal the gestational age of the baby. Thus, for a pregnancy at 34 weeks gestation, a fundal measurement of 32 cm would suggest a small baby as opposed to a fundal measurement of 36 cm which would suggest a larger baby.
3) On occasion, a healthcare professional may order an obstetrical ultrasound in the third trimester. The ultrasound technician will measure the size of the baby’s head circumference, abdominal circumference, femur length and the diameter of the fetal skull. Those measurements can then be used to calculate a rough estimate of the size of the baby.
Why does size matter?
A term pregnancy refers to a birth at 37 weeks or more. The average weight of a baby born at 37 weeks is 2,900 grams (6 pounds 6 ounces). Three weeks later at 40 weeks gestation the average weight is 3,550 grams (7 pounds 12 ounces). For the vast majority of babies, whether they weigh above or below average has no effect on their health and wellbeing. In some cases, however, a fetus that is small or very big can give rise to some concerns.
a) Small babies
A baby that weighs less than the 10th percentile for that gestational age is called a “small for gestational age” baby. The 10th percentile for a baby born at 40 weeks gestation is 2,900 grams (6 pounds 6 ounces). Small for gestational age babies can be diagnosed prior to birth based initially upon fundal measurements and the obstetrician’s experience and then confirmed through ultrasound examinations, sometimes repeated every 2 - 3 weeks during the pregnancy. The fact that a fetus is small for gestational age may mean that the fetus is developing appropriately and is simply going to be a small baby.
b) Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR)
One area of concern is when the baby is not growing at the expected rate. This is a condition referred to as intrauterine growth restriction. Intrauterine growth restriction, or IUGR, is caused by the fetus not receiving the appropriate nutrients in utero for proper growth. This can occur during the course of the pregnancy or can first become apparent in the third trimester. The diagnosis of IUGR is made by way of ultrasound examination (usually serial ultrasound examinations) or by Doppler flow studies. Doppler flow studies are a type of ultrasound examination that measures the blood flow in the umbilical artery. The general rule of thumb is that a fetus diagnosed with IUGR should be delivered if the gestational age is 37 weeks or more on the theory that the fetus can receive better nutrition outside of the womb rather than inside the womb. A fetus with IUGR is less able to tolerate the stress of labour. Studies have shown that the highest risk factor, by far, for neonatal brain injury is IUGR where the baby weighed less than the third percentile. A diagnosis of IUGR which is known by the healthcare providers allows them to more safely manage the labour, recognizing the reduced tolerance of the fetus.
c) Large babies
A large for gestational age baby is a baby that weighs more than the 90th percentile for his or her gestational age. A baby born at 40 weeks that weighs more than 4,200 grams (9 pounds 4 ounces) is a large for gestational age baby. The 97th percentile is 4,550 grams (10 pounds). It is reported that the largest baby ever born was a baby weighing 22 pounds. This baby was born in Ohio in 1879. The medical term that is sometimes used to refer to a large for gestational age baby is macrosomia. A large for gestational age baby can be diagnosed by the obstetrician’s experience, fundal measurements and ultrasound.
A large for gestational age baby is at higher risk of developing hypoglycemia. However, the major concern that arises when a fetus is diagnosed as being large for gestational age is the possibility that the shoulder of the fetus may become stuck in the birth canal during a natural delivery. This is an obstetrical emergency called shoulder dystocia. It makes sense that the larger the fetus, the more likely the possibility that he or she will become stuck during the delivery.
There are many reasons why a baby may be large for gestational age. Genetics play a significant role, as do such things as the mother having diabetes before pregnancy or developing diabetes during pregnancy. Further, as pregnancies go beyond 40 weeks, the fetus continues to grow.
Conclusion
An important part of the care provided by family physicians, midwives and obstetricians in the third trimester is to monitor fetal size and, if necessary, take steps to minimize those risks to the fetus resulting from being too small or too big.
Written by Joe Miller, QC