Re: SGA & IUGR definitions -

December 16, 2005

So it IS possible that Brockton could be SGA and NOT RSS? That is what I tried

to tell the Dr. yesterday in Rochester! He honestly has not got the typical RSS

features. When I tell people he has RSS and what it is, they say they can't

believe it because he looks so " normal " . (Whatever that means! LOL) He just

looks little for his age.

I guess I'll have to get that appt. with Dr. H. as soon as possible and see

what she has to say. It's SO FRUSTRATING!

Thanks for the post and taking the time to look back!

God Bless,

Jeanie and Brockton

pcpets wrote:

Hello ,

This is copied from another email in the archives, but I thought it was a

good explanation of SGA (Small for Gestational Age), and IUGR (Inter-Uterine

Growth Retardation) so I kept it. Hope it helps you understand what SGA is.

I think most RSS children are considered SGA, but not all. A child

considered RSS/SGA would not only be abnormally small, they would have RSS

features as well. A child considered only SGA would be small without RSS

features.

" Part of the problem is that so many doctors have

blurred what the definitions are. SGA " technically " was supposed to refer

to WEIGHT only -- a child who was born " small for gestational age " -- and it

often meant under the 3rd percentile. IUGR " technically " referred to

length, also below the 3rd percentile, and this was WHEN the length was

diagnosed in-utero with evidence by an ultrasound.

Today, the label " SGA " is commonly used for any infant born too small in

weight and/or length, and " IUGR " is added when the ultrasound evidence was

ALSO found. But again, IUGR has always referred to length, not weight.

In many if not most of the cases we have seen of RSS/SGA kids who are born

at what most would consider a " normal " weight and length, if you also look

at their siblings, their siblings weights and lengths were

much greater. SOOO.... the child's weight and length,

although " normal " by regular standards, WAS small-for-comparison against

their own siblings. For example, an RSS child whose weight was 7lbs and

length 19 " might have a brother who was born at 9.5lbs and 22 " long. Does

this make sense? "

Welcome to the group!

Pat (g-ma to , RSS, 3 yrs 11 months old, 25#, 34.6 " , G-tube, GHT)

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