The prognostic significance of antenatal diagnosis of fetal growth retardation.

Intrauterine growth retardation is associated with high risk of perinatal asphyxia. The neonatal mortality rate of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants (birthweight < or = 2 SD) in Sweden decreased from 5.6% in 1973 to 2.0% in 1987. During the same period, the number SGA infants with postnatal asphyxia (5 min Apgar score < 7) decreased from 10% to 5%. Based on antenatal diagnosis of fetal growth retardation, an optimal time of delivery reduces the risk of major neurological and developmental sequelae of the individual infant.