In plain words
Fetal growth restriction means the baby is not growing as much as expected for their stage of pregnancy. Providers measure the baby with ultrasound, often more than once, to see the growth pattern. Some babies are small but healthy and simply made that way. Others are not getting enough nutrition or oxygen through the placenta. Fetal growth restriction can be linked to placental problems, high blood pressure, and other conditions. Slow growth on ultrasound is often the first sign, which is why those checks matter. It can also happen without any clear cause. Your provider will explain the monitoring plan. If your baby is moving less than usual, call your provider the same day.
The deeper version
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is defined in the Delphi consensus (Gordijn et al., Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2016) as estimated fetal weight or abdominal circumference below the 3rd percentile, or below the 10th percentile together with abnormal Doppler findings. Its association with placental insufficiency, , and neonatal morbidity is well documented. ACOG Practice Bulletin 204 (2019) describes surveillance with serial ultrasound and Doppler assessment and notes that timing of delivery depends on gestational age and findings. Many small babies are constitutionally small, and distinguishing them from FGR is a central clinical task.
Where it comes up
- Baby moving less: what to doPregnancy: Your Body
- Pregnancy after a lossPregnancy: Mind and Life
- Prenatal tests and ultrasounds: what each one isPregnancy: Your Body
What mothers here say about fetal growth restriction
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Sources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Practice Bulletin 204: Fetal growth restriction, 2019
- Gordijn SJ et al. — Consensus definition of fetal growth restriction: a Delphi procedure. Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2016