J. Langhoffroos et G. Lindmark, OBSTETRIC INTERVENTIONS AND PERINATAL ASPHYXIA IN GROWTH-RETARDED TERM INFANTS, Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica, 76, 1997, pp. 39-43
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.