Medical Services

A newborn is considered Small for Gestational Age (SGA) if its birth weight is less than the 10th percentile for its gestational age. Intrauterine Growth Restriction is a medical term for a problem that stops growth during pregnancy. SGA, on the other hand, is a statistical term that can include both healthy small babies and babies with underlying conditions.

Small for Gestational Age can be caused by factors such as the mother's genes, ethnicity, nutrition, and environment. Some babies are small by nature but otherwise healthy. Others may not have grown as much because their placenta wasn't working properly, their mother was sick, or their foetus had problems.

At birth, doctors use standardised growth charts based on the baby's gestational age to figure out what is wrong. Prenatal suspicion may arise from ultrasound findings indicating diminished foetal growth. How to care for an SGA baby depends on their overall health. Many of these babies need close monitoring for low blood sugar, unstable body temperature, and trouble eating.
Even though many SGA babies grow faster in the first few years of life, some may stay small or face long-term health problems like metabolic disorders or developmental issues. Finding and treating newborns early on greatly improves their chances of recovery.