Pregnancy is not only a time of joyexpectations, but also many worries and anxieties. Which, however, is not surprising - the development of a new life is a very complex process. And sometimes the expectant mother is in for some very unpleasant surprises. One of them is fetal growth retardation. As you can easily guess from the name of the pathology, in this case there is a lag in the physical development of the baby in the womb. As a rule, such babies are popularly called "low birth weight". In most cases, such babies are born ahead of schedule - before 36 weeks of pregnancy. And only about 5% of children with intrauterine growth retardation are born on time.
The types of delay
Doctors distinguish two types of intrauterine development:
- Symmetrical development delay
In this case, there is not only a deficitbody weight of the fetus, but also growth retardation, a decrease in head circumference. That is, simply put, the child is developed harmoniously, just less than it should be according to the expected gestational age.
- Asymmetric development delay
In the same case, if the child has a weight deficitbody is observed against the background of normal growth and head circumference, doctors speak of asymmetrical developmental delay. By the way, this form of intrauterine growth retardation is the most common. In addition, intrauterine growth retardation is also assessed by the severity of the course.
As you understand, the greater the degree of delay in fetal development, the higher the risk to the health, and sometimes even the life, of your baby.
Causes of developmental delay
Of course, fetal developmental delays are just like thatwill not arise - one way or another, but there must be some significant reason. And there are many such reasons - these are chromosomal abnormalities, and metabolic disorders of the fetus, and hypothyroidism of the mother, and viral infections, in particular toxoplasmosis, rubella and herpes. Asymmetrical form of intrauterine growth retardation of the baby often develops due to fetoplacental insufficiency. Simply put, the placenta is unable to fully supply the fetus with the nutrients that are so necessary for normal development. Moreover - in cases of particularly severe dysfunction of the placenta, oxygen deficiency is possible - hypoxia. And dysfunction of the placenta can occur as a result of gestosis, abnormal development of the umbilical cord vessels, multiple pregnancies, and placenta previa. It is not surprising that in such conditions there is no need to talk about any normal development of the fetus. In addition, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) can occur under the influence of unfavorable external factors - the expectant mother taking certain medications, radiation, drinking alcohol, drugs, smoking. It is impossible not to mention another interesting fact - doctors say that having previous abortions increases the risk of fetal growth retardation several times. However, most often it is impossible to establish the reason for the developmental delay, unfortunately. Doctors can only guess, but they do not know for sure. Although, in fairness, it should be noted that knowing this reason will not help the mother and baby much.
Symptoms of fetal development retardation
This pathology does not have any clearly expressed symptoms.symptoms that could allow the expectant mother to suspect something is wrong on her own. The only way to detect IUGR - intrauterine growth retardation - is to visit your gynecologist in a timely manner, who will notice the problem and promptly prescribe the necessary treatment. There is an opinion that too little weight gain during pregnancy indicates an intrauterine growth retardation. However, doctors say that this is not true at all! Very often, a delay in the baby's development occurs in those women who have gained even more weight than they should. Although, of course, if a pregnant woman suddenly decides to monitor the beauty of her figure and goes on a strict diet, the baby may suffer. If the degree of delay is very large, the woman may notice a decrease in fetal movements and their weakness. Although such a phenomenon can serve as a symptom of many disorders. But in any case, this should serve as a very alarming signal and a reason to immediately call an ambulance!
Examination of a pregnant woman
Most often, the doctor assumes that there is a delayfetal development if the height of the fundus is less than it should be for the gestational age. In simple terms, the uterus is smaller than it should be. After all, the baby is smaller than it should be. After this, the doctor will definitely send the woman for an ultrasound scan, during which the baby's abdominal and head circumference, the length of its thigh and approximate weight will be measured. In addition, with the help of an ultrasound scan, it is possible to determine how the baby's internal organs function. After a standard ultrasound, a Doppler study will be performed, which will allow assessing the blood flow both in the vessels of the umbilical cord and placenta, and in the vessels of the baby. Then, fetal cardiotocography is performed - a kind of cardiogram for the child, which will allow assessing the general condition of the child and exclude (or confirm) fetal hypoxia.
Treatment of fetal development delay
Regardless of what form it takesintrauterine growth retardation and how severe it is, treatment should be started as early as possible, immediately after diagnosing the pathology. And only if the baby's developmental delay is no more than a week, the doctor may not take any action, but simply observe - but not more than a week! If there is no improvement, treatment will still be needed.
- Medication
For the treatment of intrauterine growth retardationbaby, doctors use a very large number of pharmacological drugs, the action of which is aimed at improving blood flow in the placenta. In addition, if necessary, the doctor will prescribe a course of vitamins, which will also support the baby.
- Eating a pregnant woman
Very often, a woman who finds out about a delaydevelopment of your baby, starts eating for two. However, this makes no sense - after all, gaining weight is not your goal? It is much more important to ensure that your diet is balanced - vegetables, fruits, milk and meat products are vital, because the need for proteins increases many times over. Proteins are the very "building blocks" that are needed for the health of the baby.
- The mode of the future mother's day
Not the least role in the development of the child is played bydaily routine of the expectant mother. Firstly, try to walk in the fresh air as much as possible. But, of course, you should not overexert yourself - an hour of leisurely walking will be quite enough. Secondly, an afternoon nap will not be superfluous - if you sleep for at least an hour, you will feel much better. And thirdly, of course, it is very important to maintain emotional peace - an expectant mother does not need extra stress at all, don't you think?
Pediatric fetal arrest
The birth of a weakened baby -is not an easy task. In each specific case, the doctor carefully evaluates the situation and makes a decision, taking into account the condition of both the mother and the baby. If the developmental delay is not too great and the general condition of the mother and baby is satisfactory, the birth can be natural. If the baby is too weak or has hypoxia - most likely, the doctor will decide on the need for a cesarean section. If the condition of the mother and baby allows, doctors perform a cesarean section at the appointed time, when the pregnancy is fully mature. If the situation is critical, a cesarean section can be performed urgently. We recommend reading:
