1. Counting Fetal Movement
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is not a condition that requires immediate treatment. Rather, your doctor will want to monitor the situation and avoid any kind of intervention until it's absolutely necessary. Once you've received a diagnosis of IUGR, there are several ways of watching for potential problems. Counting fetal movements is one method, and it is something you can do on your own at home, simply tracking your baby's kicks and movements. In the womb, babies go through cycles of sleep and wakeful periods. When they are awake, babies typically move around, and you can feel them as they punch and kick. Some babies are more active than others, so there is no set number of movements to indicate health. Rather, a sudden change in your baby's activity level could signal that the fetus is under stress. If you are concerned that your baby is moving less than usual, discuss this with your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
2. Checking Fetal Heart Rate
Your doctor can use a non-stress test to determine whether your baby's heart rate increases when it moves around. An increased heart rate is a good sign and indicates that your baby is healthy. Your baby will need to be moving for this test, which can sometimes make it difficult to do. If your baby is sleeping, you may be asked to move around or prod your belly to get the baby moving.
3. Ultrasound, Doppler Flow and Biophysical Profile: More Diagnostic Tools
Your doctor will recommend using ultrasounds on a fairly regular basis to track your baby's growth. A sudden drop in growth can signal that the fetus is in distress and needs to be delivered immediately. Ultrasounds are helpful in assessing the weight of the fetus and are frequently used to make decisions about if and when to induce labor.
The Doppler flow is another useful tool that can help your doctor determine the health of your baby. Small babies are not necessarily unwell babies. Tests such as the Doppler flow don't look at size, but instead focus on how well everything is functioning inside.
The biophysical profile also looks at the well being of the fetus. It combines the non-stress test with the ultrasound to evaluate your baby's health.
