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 Roy Pitkin, M.D., is a professor of obstetrics and
gynecology and is the former chair of the ob/gyn
department at the University of California, Los
Angeles School of Medicine. He is a frequent advisor
to national health agencies on women's health issues and has
received numerous international honors for this work.
Q: My wife is 31 weeks pregnant with our second child. She is a small woman in good shape. In last week's office visit her uterus did not grow from her previous visit. The doctor wants to do an ultrasound. The baby has excellent movement. What can be wrong?
A: The baby may have slowed its growth or even stopped growing entirely. Growth failure may occur because of a problem with the mother's supply line, or there may be something intrinsic to the baby (such as infection) limiting its growth. In any case, it is potentially serious and may need some treatment. Just exactly what treatment will depend on the stage of gestation. The first step is to find out the baby's size, and ultrasound is very accurate in this regard. Several measurements can be made and then repeated in several weeks.
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