Table Of Contents
Overview
Large for gestational age (LGA) refers to a neonate born with a birth weight exceeding 90th centile for gestational age.
- Prenatal diagnosis of LGA neonates
- Fundal height measurement more than expected for weeks of pregnancy
- Ultrasonography can be used to estimate fetal weight and size
- Postnatal diagnosis of LGA neonates
- Assessing weight, length and head circumference
Risk factors
- Constitutional – parents are also large
- Maternal diabetes
- Maternal obesity
- Maternal history of delivering LGA infants
- Foetal hyperinsulinism – pancreatic islet cell hyperplasia.
- Hydrops foetalis – condition in the foetus characterised by fluid accumulation
- Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome – congenital overgrowth syndrome
Complications
- Birth injuries – brachial plexus injuries and fractures
- Difficult delivery
- Birth asphyxia
- Meconium aspiration
- Hypoglycemia
- Increased risk of birth defects – children born to diabetic mothers are at increased risk of developing birth defects such as caudal regression syndrome
- Polycythemia
- Delayed lung development predisposing neonate to RDS, TTN
Treatment is according to complications met.
