Atlas of Neonatal Pathology: Large for gestational age infant (LGA)

+ Introduction

+ Support

+ Neonatal pathology

Large for gestational age infant (LGA)

Introduction

An infant weighing 4000 g or more at term.

Etiology

habitus (tall and heavier women have larger babies)
maternal obesity
maternal diabetes
rare macrosomic syndromes (Beckwidth — Wiedemann syndrome etc.)

Clinical signs

Potential complications

cephalopelvic disproportion and shoulder dystocia in vaginal delivery
increased incidence of birth injuries (skeletal system, peripheral nerves) and birth asphyxia as a result of difficult extraction
cesarean delivery may be necessary
diabetic fetopathy — problems of macrosomia and relative organ immaturity, see the section Diabetes mellitus and pregnancy

Pictures

Large for gestational age stillbirth of diabetic mother with birth weight 5900 g. Vaginal delivery was difficult and complicated by shoulder dystocia. Diabetic fetopathy, Macro, autopsy (73791)