Knowing when your baby’s weight correlates to gestational age can be a cause for alert
If you are or have ever been pregnant, you have surely come across the term “fetal percentile” during prenatal care. In general, it is a relationship between estimated fetal weight and gestational ageresulting in a number that can range from 0 to 100: this will be its percentile at that time.
Helena Cossich, obstetrician, specialist in gynecological video surgery and founding member of the Baby Concierge maternal and child club, explains in more detail: ” The fetal percentile is calculated from ultrasound measurements. We put the data into a formula and, considering the result, we get an estimate of the baby’s weight. So based on gestational age, he’s going to be in a weight range, which is what we call a percentile.”
These numbers that allow you to estimate the weight of the fetus are related to the measurements of the head circumference, abdomen and femur.
When the percentile is an alert
“With percentiles between 10 and 90, we are facing the expected results. Less than 10 or more There are 90 cases that need investigation“, warns Helena. But this does not necessarily mean that there is something wrong with the fetus. “Depending on genetics, we could be faced with a constitutionally small or large child, which does not represent a growth problem within the uterus,” he ponders.
A careful look, however, is important evaluate if there is a hitherto undiagnosed problem, “both in the mother and in the fetus itself,” says the specialist. It is essential to investigate whether something is causing the baby to grow more than expected (which can happen, for example, in gestational diabetes) or if there is a problem limiting its growth.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that, at birth, when the child has a percentile above 90, it is considered LGA (large for gestational age) – referring to the week of pregnancy with which she came into the world). A newborn below the 10th percentile is called SGA (small for gestational age).
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
