OBSTETRIC INTERVENTIONS AND PERINATAL ASPHYXIA IN GROWTH-RETARDED TERM INFANTS

Background The monitoring of fetal growth during pregnancy is usually justified because of the increased perinatal risk of these babies. Met hods. In 1552 infants from the Scandinavian Small for Gestational Age Study the need for obstetric interventions, risk of fetal asphyxia and immediate neonatal outcome at term have been studied in relation to d ifferent types of fetal growth retardation, including subgroups with l ow ponderal index or low amount of subcutaneous fat. Results. The need for obstetric intervention indicated by suspected fetal asphyxia befo re or during labor was increased 3-fold (6-8%) for growth retarded inf ants both in SGA infants in general and infants with asymmetric body p roportions. The immediate perinatal outcome, however, was favorable wi th Apgar below 8 at 5 min in only 2% irrespective of the type of growt h retardation, in spite of the fact that less than 25% of the SGA preg nancies and 10% of those with asymmetric fetal growth had been eligibl e for close antenatal fetal monitoring.Conclusion. With a moderate inc rease in interventions at delivery, perinatal outcome was highly favor able for term infants with a weight for gestational age, weight for le ngth or skinfold for weight below the 10th percentile in this populati on of Scandinavian parous mothers.