Survival of pregnancies with small for gestational age detected before 24 weeks gestation.

OBJECTIVE

Counselling women where severe growth abnormalities are detected early in the pregnancy is often difficult due to a paucity of outcome data of this specific subset of early onset disease. This study therefore aimed to assess the outcome of pregnancies where an estimated fetal weight less than the third centile were detected prior to 24 weeks gestation.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective study in two London teaching hospitals, over an eight year period was performed, analysing all pregnancies with an ultrasound estimated fetal weight less than the third centile prior to 24 weeks gestation. Outcome data: intrauterine death, neonatal death, survival to discharge, gestation at delivery and birthweight were collected.

RESULTS

Out of 20 pregnancies included in the analysis, six died in utero, two died in the neonatal period and 12 (60%) survived until discharge. Of the livebirths, 67% delivered preterm and 100% percent of livebirths were delivered by Caesarean Section.

CONCLUSION

When severe growth abnormalities were detected before 24 weeks, more than half of pregnancies resulted in survival to neonatal discharge. There was an increased incidence of preterm delivery, caesarean section and neonatal unit admission. This information is useful in counselling parents.