What Causes Fetus To Be Small?

Hello, Small for date size babies can be either because of mistaken dates of menstruation or can be due to insufficient supply of the nutrients to the baby via placental perfusion. Please make sure that your last menstrual period date was correctly informed to you, doctor. How much is the difference in the size of the baby? If after four weeks the difference remains the same, it could be mostly mistaken dates or delayed fertilization. Also, milestones of growth will be key factors in diagnosis. If the baby is not getting proper nourishment, the low growth of the baby will worsen. Though there are many reasons for low nutritional supply to the baby, the main causes are: 1. Undernutrition of the mother. However, your BMI seems to be within the normal range (22.3). Still, I would advise you consume extra 300 calories from your diet merely from carbohydrates; rice with jaggery is a good option. Protein supplementation is very vital. Include more pulses, legumes, meat, nuts, egg, etcetera in your diet. 2. Low blood supply to the placenta. Mainly high blood pressure is responsible for it. Check your blood pressure. Take the tablet Aspirin daily may improve the placental blood supply. If the blood pressure is high, get it treated by suitable medicines from an obstetrician only, and not from the physician. Take sufficient rest. You should not lie on the back or the right side. Take rest only on the left side to improve the blood supply to the placenta. 3. The placenta may start premature aging. It can be found out by ultrasonography and color Doppler. Unfortunately, there is no reliable treatment for it. Any threat to the health of the mother may affect the placental circulation and the growth of the baby, hence urinary tract infection (UTI) also can, if it remains prolonged for a longer period. Your husband s stature may be reflected in the baby, within normal limits. If you follow certain tips of diet and rest I have given you, the baby s grown can be improved. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Nishikant Shrotri