After successful conception, the most important concern for every expectant mother is whether the fetus can develop healthily and normally. However, there are indeed some fetuses whose growth and development are abnormal due to the influence of the mother, the fetus, and other external factors, which refers to fetal growth restriction. So, how many fetuses have growth restriction?
Are there many cases of fetal growth restriction
Fetal growth restriction, also known as intrauterine growth restriction, refers to abnormal fetal size that fails to reach its genetic growth potential within the uterus. The birth weight of the fetus is below two standard deviations of the average weight of the same gestational age, or below the 10th percentile of normal weight for the same age. Given that not all fetuses below the 10th percentile are pathological growth restriction, some have suggested using those below the 3rd percentile as the standard. The incidence rate in our country is 6.39%, which is the second leading cause of perinatal mortality. The mortality rate is 6-10 times that of normally developing infants. About 30% of newborns die, and 50% of newborns born with intrauterine hypoxia during labor have fetal growth restriction.
Causes of fetal growth restriction
1. Pregnant women's factors
(1) Nutritional factors. Pregnant women have picky eating habits, severe vomiting during pregnancy, and insufficient intake of protein, vitamins, and trace elements. There is a positive correlation between fetal birth weight and maternal blood glucose levels.
(2) Pregnancy complications and comorbidities. Complications such as gestational hypertension, multiple pregnancies, placenta previa, placental abruption, post term pregnancy, and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, as well as comorbidities such as heart disease, chronic hypertension, nephritis, anemia, and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, can all reduce placental blood flow and perfusion.
(3) Others. Pregnant women's age, region, weight, height, economic status, uterine malformation, smoking, drug use, alcohol abuse, intrauterine infection, maternal exposure to radiation or toxic substances, etc.
2. Fetal factors. Substances that regulate fetal growth, such as growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor, and leptin, are reduced in umbilical cord blood, which may affect fetal endocrine and metabolism. Fetal genetic or chromosomal abnormalities, as well as congenital developmental abnormalities, are often accompanied by fetal growth restriction.
3. Placental factors. Various placental lesions lead to a decrease in uterine placental blood flow and insufficient fetal blood supply.
4. Umbilical cord factors. The umbilical cord is too long, too thin, twisted, or knotted.
Therefore, in order to reduce the occurrence of fetal growth restriction during pregnancy, expectant mothers should pay attention to strengthening nutrition, rest more in daily life, maintain a good and optimistic mood, learn to relieve stress, especially regularly undergo prenatal checkups, closely monitor fetal growth and development, and once fetal growth restriction is found, receive early treatment and take nutritional supplements or injections under the guidance of a doctor.
