[Intrauterine growth retardation. Changes in obstetrical practice in France]

The change in practice in connection with fetal growth retardation was studied using two national enquiries on pregnancy and delivery carried out in 1976 and 1981. These showed important changes in practice between the two studies. Although ultrasound and fetal heart rate monitoring are widely used and are shown as being very important for pregnancies overall, they are not used more often in cases of fetal growth retardation. On the other hand, when they have been started these examinations are more often easily repeated. Recourse to hormonal essay has not changed in intra-uterine growth retardation cases (17%). The percentage of caesareans carried out for retardation rose from 9.4 to 17.4% and these caesarean operations were carried out earlier. 50% of this increase is due to the decision to carry out a caesarean before labour starts. This more aggressive tendency means that the number of premature babies in growth retarded infants was higher in 1981, although the difference not significant and this practice would need further study. There are improvements in neonatal health as a result of the changes although one cannot pinpoint for certain which procedure has caused this improvement.