ABSTRACT
Low birth weight is an important predictor of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Fetal growth rates (FGR) are determined by comparing the size of the infant at birth with an expected norm for a given gestational age. Birth weight is the most accessible and reliable measure of the newborn and is, therefore, widely used for this purpose. Fetal size and fetal growth are often confused in clinical practice. The “normal” values for preterm infants are determined by infants that were themselves born preterm, a condition that is itself associated with FGR. Growth and symmetry are affected by the nature and severity of the underlying growth-restrictive process as well as its timing and duration. Antenatal identification of the risk factors for FGR is probably possible in as many as 50% of cases. Third-trimester screening for FGR by serial fundal height and maternal weight–gain assessments should be routinely performed during prenatal care.
