Some babies who aren’t growing well have what’s known as fetal growth restriction. This means they’re smaller and lighter than they should be for that stage of pregnancy.
Your baby’s growth measurement should be recorded at all of your check-ups. This will help you to see whether they’re growing well.
Your baby may be small for lots of reasons, such as:
Not all small babies have fetal growth restriction. Some babies are naturally small, and some catch up and grow later in pregnancy. Most small babies are born healthy and grow into healthy children.
If your baby isn’t growing well:
Fetal growth restriction makes a stillbirth more likely, so it’s important that it’s spotted early.
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Last updated:
15 December 2023