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Updated: Sep 21, 2025

Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction
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Perinatal and Neonatal Outcomes in Fetal Growth Restriction and Small for Gestational Age

Chiara Lubrano1, Emanuela Taricco1, Chiara Coco1

  • 1Department of Woman Mother and Neonate 'V. Buzzi' Children Hospital, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, 20154 Milan, Italy.

Journal of Clinical Medicine
|May 28, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Fetal growth alterations like Fetal Growth Restriction (FGR) and Small for Gestational Age (SGA) impact neonatal outcomes. FGR is linked to prematurity complications, while unexpected SGA births show metabolic distress but better NICU outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Perinatal Research

Background:

  • Intrauterine fetal growth alterations are associated with increased risks for perinatal and neonatal complications.
  • Understanding the distinct impacts of Fetal Growth Restriction (FGR) and Small for Gestational Age (SGA) is crucial for optimizing perinatal care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare maternal characteristics, gestational age at delivery, and perinatal/neonatal outcomes among pregnancies with appropriate for gestational age (AGA), FGR, and unexpected SGA fetuses.
  • To identify risk factors associated with fetal growth alterations.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 906 pregnancies from a maternal-fetal medicine center.
  • Categorization of fetuses into AGA (n=655), SGA (n=62, diagnosed post-delivery), and FGR (n=189, early and late onset).
  • Comparison of maternal factors, delivery gestational age, blood gas values, and neonatal outcomes (NICU admissions, duration).

Main Results:

  • Risk factors for fetal growth alterations included advanced maternal age, primiparity, and low pregestational BMI.
  • FGR fetuses were delivered earlier and experienced worse neonatal outcomes due to prematurity, despite comparable birth blood gas values to AGA.
  • Unexpected SGA fetuses exhibited higher hyperlactacidemia and hypoxemia at birth compared to AGA and FGR, but had better neonatal outcomes than FGR.

Conclusions:

  • Fetal Growth Restriction (FGR) is primarily associated with prematurity-related neonatal complications.
  • Unexpected Small for Gestational Age (SGA) births present with metabolic challenges but generally have better neonatal outcomes than FGR, likely due to similar gestational age and birth weight to AGA infants.
  • Gestational age and birth weight are key determinants of neonatal outcomes in altered fetal growth scenarios.

Keywords:
SGAblood gas analysisfetal growth restrictionperinatal outcomes

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