ABSTRACT
The term ‘small for gestational age’ (SGA) indicates a birth weight of less than the 10th centile for infants of that gestation, that is, the lightest 10% of all babies. The cause of an infant being small is frequently not known. Some fetuses are genetically small and thus normally and healthily fall within this bottom 10%; however, others are not. There are two broad categories of SGA babies: proportionate and disproportionate. The proportionate babies are just that: their length, weight and head circumference are proportionate. These babies may be those genetically small but normal; others may have suffered from intra-uterine malnutrition for some considerable time during pregnancy and have, therefore, been unable to grow to their full potential. This latter group has suffered chronic intra-uterine compromise.
