Large for Gestational Age Baby (LGA)

What is Large for Gestational Age Baby (LGA)

Large for gestational age is a medical term that is used to describe a baby’s size. A baby that is LGA is bigger than other babies who are the same age. LGA can refer to a developing baby that is still in the womb (uterus) or a newborn baby.

An unborn baby is considered LGA if the baby is bigger than 90 percent of other babies who are at the same week of pregnancy (gestational age). A baby who weighs more than 8 lb 13 oz (4 kg) at birth is considered LGA.

If your baby is LGA, there are risks for both you and the baby. You may have a greater risk of:

  • Prolonged childbirth.
  • Vaginal tearing.
  • The need to have your baby delivered surgically through your abdomen (cesarean delivery or “C-section”).

If your baby is LGA, your baby may be at greater risk for complications at birth and beyond, including:

  • Birth injury, such as a shoulder injury.
  • Breathing trouble.
  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
  • Yellow coloring to skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice).
  • Blood sugar problems or diabetes later in life.

What are the causes?

Many factors can contribute to having a baby that is LGA, including whether you:

  • Develop diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes).
  • Have diabetes before you become pregnant.
  • Have a pregnancy that lasts longer than 41 weeks.
  • Are obese.
  • Gain more than 35 lb (16 kg) during pregnancy.
  • Are age 35 or older.
  • Had an LGA baby before.
  • Are having a baby with a rare genetic condition, such as Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome or Sotos syndrome.

How is this diagnosed?

Your health care provider will monitor you carefully if you are more likely to have an LGA baby. In order to tell if you may have an LGA baby, your health care provider will:

  • Keep track of how much weight you gain.
  • Estimate the size of your uterus. This is done by measuring your abdomen from your pubic bone to the highest part of your belly.
  • Do a fetal ultrasound to estimate your baby’s weight.

How is this treated?

If you are at higher risk of having an LGA baby, your health care provider will monitor you closely to control your blood sugar and manage your weight gain.

After birth, LGA babies may need treatment for complications, including:

  • Jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia). Babies with jaundice may need light therapy (phototherapy) to help their body get rid of a certain chemical that may build up in their blood (bilirubin).
  • Low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia). LGA newborns with low blood sugar levels may be treated with extra feedings or sugar through an IV tube.
  • Lung problems. LGA babies may need extra oxygen through a tube in the nose or a ventilator.

Follow these instructions at home:

If your health care provider thinks that you may give birth to an LGA baby, it is especially important to get good care before you give birth (prenatal care). You may also need to have specialized medical treatment and tests. Make sure to:

  • Keep your blood sugar levels under control if you have diabetes or are at risk for diabetes.
  • Follow a healthy diet.
  • Avoid excessive weight gain throughout your pregnancy.
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