New definition of small for gestational age based on fetal growth potential.

Accurate definition of small for gestational age (SGA) is essential for antenatal as well as postnatal care. SGA is associated with significant antenatal and postnatal pathology. The term, however, includes constitutional smallness, and it is essential to adjust for physiological variation in order to identify those babies who are pathologically small. Maternal height, weight, parity, ethnic origin and the baby's gender have all been found to be significantly associated with normal variation in birth weight. These variables need to be adjusted for to calculate the true growth potential, which can be represented as individually customized fetal growth curves and birth weight percentiles (www.gestation.net). This method for calculating growth potential has been validated in a number of international studies. 'Customized SGA' defines neonates with intrauterine growth restriction, while 'small-normal' does not represent increased risk. Currently, coefficients are being developed for more ethnic groups, to broaden the international applicability of individualized standards. Work is also underway to incorporate the customized birth weight percentile as the starting point of infant growth curves.