Dr. Mathews ONLINE

A large for dates infant is one whose birth weight, when plotted on growth charts of body weight against pregnancy age is over the 90th percent.

Babies who are large for dates may be due to:

---inaccurate dating of last menstrual period
---maternal diabetes in almost 80% of established cases
---everyone in the family is large
---chromosomal defects

Post-mature babies ( babies beyond due date) are not usually unduly large because placental insufficiency slows the rate of growth.

Complications can be maternal and fetal

Maternal:

---prolonged labour
---premature labour
---increased risk of trauma to the mother
---increased risk of shoulder dystocia

Fetal:

---fetal distress and birth asphyxia
---Brachial (arm) nerve injuries
---Blood collection under the scalp, resulting in more pronounced neonatal jaundice