Being born Small for Gestational Age (SGA)

Here’s an interview from Megan and her daughter Emerence who was born Small for Gestational Age at just 37 weeks.

If a baby is born Small for Gestational Age (SGA), it means they are smaller than they should be in length, weight or head circumference. Approximately 8.6–9.6% of all new-borns are born SGA. The condition can be caused by several different factors ranging from environmental to genetic. Most babies with the condition will catch up to a normal length and/or weight by 2 years of age. However, there are some cases in which they do not catch-up and require additional treatment.

In the interview, Megan discusses the emotional distress one endures when one’s child is born SGA and is not developing at the same rate as others her age. She also explains the difficulties getting diagnosed correctly with SGA, as it is often not taken as seriously as something named as a “syndrome”.  

Megan emphasises that it is essential to have regular height and weight measurements done early (ideally from birth) in order to monitor a child’s growth rate & health accurately. Both, the mother and daughter, advocate strongly for early diagnosis in children as it’s key to receiving the correct care for any growth disorder. You can watch their full story below.

Calculate your child’s growth

It is important to keep track of your child’s growth in order to identify if there is a problem early on. We recommend measuring your child every 6 months, which is now easier with our simple to use growth calculator.