Normal Fetal Growth Flashcards
When is fetal growth the fastest?
Before term
When does the baby gain the most weight?
Mid/late trimester
Define fetal growth
The increase in mass that occurs between the end of the embryonic period and birth
What are the two components which determine normal fetal growth?
Genetic potential
Substrate supply
What is substrate supply dependent upon?
Uterine and placental vascularity
What is genetic potential mediated via?
Growth factors e.g. IGF
What are the three phases of normal fetal growth and when do they take place?
- Cellular hyperplasia (4th-20th week)
- Hyperplasia and hypertrophy (20-28th week)
- Hypertrophy alone (28th-40th week)
In the alphabet: p>t
Distinguish between hypertrophy and hyperplasia
Hypertrophy - increase in cell SIZE
Hyperplasia - increase in NUMBER of cells
Besides increase in cell size, what happens during hypertrophy in the last phase of foetal growth?
Rapid accumulation of fat, muscle and connective tissue
Which four fetal organs grow rapidly in size during pregnancy?
LARGE:
Brain
Liver
SMALL:
Kidney
Heart
How do foetal organs compare to baby organs?
They contain 20% less cells, therefore must growth after birth
What is the average weight gain between 14 and 15 weeks?
5g/day
What is the average weight gain at 20 weeks?
10g/day
What is the average weight gain between 32 and 34 weeks?
30-35g/day (triples)
What happens to the weight gain after 34 weeks?
Growth rate decreases
Name and describe a bedside technique used to determine the health and growth of the baby
Symphysis fundal height (SFH)
Measure the distance from the pubic symphysis to the top of the uterus
At which week is the SFH at:
i) the pubic symphysis
ii) the umbilicus
PS - 12 weeks
U - 20 weeks
Between 20 and 34 weeks, what would the SFH be?
Gestational age plus or minus 2 cm
e.g. at 25w, it could be between 23 or 27cm