Research: do extra scans detect small babies?

New research published in the medical journal The Lancet has been conducted into screening for fetal growth restriction (FGR).  The aim of the study was to determine whether additional ultra-sounds in the third trimester (at 28 weeks and 36 weeks gestation) could increase the detection rate of babies who are “small for gestational age” (SGA) and those who additionally had “fetal growth restriction” (FGR) as FGR is highly associated with adverse outcomes such as stillbirth.

The women who were included in the study were all first-time mums with single pregnancies and whose routine scans had not identified any concerns.  The results suggest that third trimester scans tripled the detection of SGA babies and by combining a number of growth measurements taken at the scan, (in particular measuring babies abdominal circumference) the small babies could be subdivided into two groups. 70% were small but not growth restricted and were at the same risk of neonatal morbidity as those babies not identified as being small and 30% were growth restricted and at increased risk of neonatal morbidity. As a result, the research authors suggest that a programme to screen with universal ultrasounds and interventions might reduce the number of adverse perinatal outcomes caused by FGR.

MAMA Academy welcomes this research as growth restriction is the single largest risk factor for stillbirth, especially when it goes unrecognised before birth. Our Made to Measure campaign is also encouraging trusts to implement the Perinatal Institute’s GAP programme to identify babies which might not be growing as they should, and refer them for additional growth scans.

Read the research here