What is IUGR?
IUGR stands for intrauterine growth retardation. This means that your baby is growing slowly and doesn’t weigh as much as your doctor expected for this stage of pregnancy. If your unborn baby weighs less than most babies at this stage, your baby might have IUGR. IUGR is also used to describe a baby who weighs less at birth than most babies at the same stage. For babies who are born near their due date (meaning, they aren’t premature), the dangerous weight is anything less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces. Your doctor might suspect IUGR if he or she thinks your baby is growing slightly less than would be expected. IUGR is usually diagnosed during an ultrasound examination. Doctors most often find it during the 6th, the 7th or the 8th months of pregnancy. It’s important to know that IUGR only means slowed growing. These small babies aren’t mentally slow or retarded. Most small babies grow up to be healthy children and adults. Why is my baby small? Doctors know many of the causes of IUGR but are o
