Macrosomal fetus

A macrosomic fetus is a fetus that weighs more than 4000 g after birth. At the time of delivery, the preliminary weight of the fetus is determined, but even this diagnosis is not 100% accurate. During the I. period of labor higher fetal weight does not indicate as great a danger as it is in II. at the time of delivery. In II. the labor period can be prolonged and the fetus is thus more at risk of hypoxia, there is also a greater risk of injury to the mother and fetus.

Division
A macrosomic fetus can be divided into:
 * large fetus' - the weight is higher than 4000 g',
 * excessively large fetus' - the weight is higher than 4500 g,
 * huge fetus' - weight is higher than 5000 g'.

Predisposing factors increasing the incidence of macrosomic fetus

 * Genetic factors',
 * the woman's height is higher than 170 cm,
 * pregnant woman weighs more than 70 kg,
 * weight gain during pregnancy is greater than 20 kg,
 * multiparity',
 * female diabetes mellitus,
 * carrying pregnancy for more than 7 days
 * the occurrence of a macrosomic fetus in a previous pregnancy, etc.

Description of macrosomic fetus and placenta
The majority with a higher weight is the fetus is also longer'. The head is harder and the skull bones are stronger. The fontanelles are small and the cranial sutures are narrow. The biacrominal diameter is usually greater than 40 cm. The placenta is larger and weighs up to 1000 g and more.

Risks of a macrosomic fetus

 * Prolonged second stage of labor and with it possible hypoxia of the fetus.
 * Brachial Dystocia.
 * Higher risk of major birth injury to the mother.
 * Higher risk of clavicle fracture, humerus, or brachial plexus injury in the fetus.

Related Articles

 * Pregnancy
 * Birth
 * Brachial dystocia