Abstract

Introduction

Foetal growth is the result of maternal availability of nutrients, placental transfer and its own growth potential.⁽¹⁾ The normal neonate is the one whose birth weight is between the 10th and 90th percentile as per the gestational age with no features of malnutrition and growth retardation.

Intrauterine growth restriction is associated with perinatal mortality and significant morbidity of surviving newborn. It is associated with an increased risk of still birth, adverse perinatal outcomes and neurodevelpomental delay.^(5,6,7)

Early onset IUGR cases (which develop before 32 weeks) can be detected using Doppler ultrasound and delivery of such fetuses is indicated to prevent still birth.

Late onset IUGR (which develops after 34 weeks) have to be delivered timely from an unhealthy in -utero environment to avoid suboptimal perinatal outcomes.⁽⁸⁾

Doppler ultrasound markers of placental insufficiency especially increase in uterine artery pulsatility index is typical of early onset IUGR.

IUGR should be a cause of concern because they not only indicate an imminent risk of malnutrition and morbidity in women if child bearing age, but also signal of a high risk of malnutrition, morbidity and mortality for the newborn in the developing countries.