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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Published on: June 29, 2013
Determinants of fetal growth
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaiser Foundation Hospital, 9400 East Rosecrans Avenue, Bellflower, CA 90706, USA. david.a.sacks@kp.org
Abstract:
Fetal growth is the end product of a variety of genetic, maternal, fetal, and placental factors. Maternal size is a dominant determinant of birth weight. Specific nutrients and their availability modify the expression of genetically determined metabolic and transfer systems. Hormones and growth factors of maternal, fetal, and placental origin regulate nutrient transfer and fetal organ development. Fetal development is ultimately determined by dynamic interactions between all of these factors beginning prior to conception and proceeding to delivery.
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