What Is Intrauterine Growth Retardation?

[dropcap]I ntrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is a fetal development abnormality characterized by failure to grow normally for gestational period. Specifically, it means the developing baby weighs less than 90% of other babies at the same age.

Intrauterine growth retardation puts the baby at increased risk for complications such as premature birth or that the baby will die inside the womb before birth.¹

Intrauterine growth restriction  may be suspected if the size of the pregnant woman’s uterus is small. The condition is usually confirmed by ultrasound. Further tests may be needed to screen for infection or genetic problems if intrauterine growth retardation is suspected.

Q: Why would a baby not grow normally during pregnancy? A: An unborn baby cannot grow normally  if it does not obtain adequate oxygen and nutrition delivered through the placenta from the mother. Factors that impede adequate delivery of nutrition include:

• Poor placenta placement. Conditions that limit or interfere with space for nutrient and oxygen absorption between the placenta and the uterine wall include 1) low attachment of the placenta near or over the cervix where maternal blood supply is poor, 2) pulling away or bleeding between the placenta and uterine wall, 3) multiple placentas (from multiple babies) sharing the uterine wall may limit blood supply to one or more of the fetuses, and 4) the presence of an hydatid mole,  (non-fertilized egg growing wildly), tumor or fibroids taking up space or growing under or into the placenta. 
• Chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus. Conditions such as trisomy 22  have early onset  of  intrauterine growth retardation  in pregnancy. 
• Poor health of the mother. These factors include 1) anemia which impairs the ability of the mother’s blood to deliver adequate oxygen, 2) preeclampsia which interferes with placenta function, 3) diabetes which impairs proper supply of energy, 4) kidney disease, 5) poor diet, 6) malabsorption, 7) high blood pressure or heart disease, 8) clotting disorders, and 9) toxins and infections during pregnancy that may harm the developing baby such as rubella, cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, and syphilis. 
• Risk factors in the mother. Any of the following may contribute to intrauterine growth retardation:¹

• Alcohol abuse.
• Drug addiction.
• Smoking.

What Is Intrauterine Growth Retardation In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

1. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001500.htm [↩] [↩]

What Is Hypotonia?

[dropcap]H ypotonia is impairment  of muscle contraction that is characterized by abnormally low muscle tension or flaccid muscles. 

Normally, even when relaxed, muscles have a very small amount of contraction or tone that gives them a springy feel and provides some resistance to passive movement.  

Q: Why is muscle contraction impaired in hypotonia?

A: In hypotonia, muscle contraction is impaired due to a disconnect between nerve signals and responses of motor muscle. Motor muscles cause body parts to move such as the arms and legs.

Low muscle tone is not the same as low muscle strength, although these two conditions can co-exist.  Muscle tone is regulated by signals that travel from the brain to the nerves and stimulate the muscles to contract whereas muscle weakness is a problems of muscles themselves.

In babies this condition is called “floppy doll syndrome.”

What Is Hypotonia In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

A form of inflammatory bowel disease that causes irritation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It usually affects the lower small intestine (also called the ileum) or the colon, but it can also affect any part… 

The process the body uses to break down food into simple substances for energy, growth, and cell repair.

Loose, irregular connective tissue that lies between muscle cells, covering muscle fibers and holding them together.

A disease in which the lining of the esophagus becomes infiltrated with a type of white blood cell called an eosinophil.

The process of bacteria breaking down undigested food and releasing alcohols, acids, and gases.

Related to the stomach.

The functional and physical unit of heredity passed from parent to offspring. Genes are pieces of DNA, and most genes contain the information for making a specific protein.

A group of birth defects that changes the way the liver breaks down glycogen.