This can lead to potentially serious bleeding after delivery. Fetal macrosomia increases the risk that your uterine muscles won't properly contract after you give birth (uterine atony). During childbirth, fetal macrosomia can cause a baby to injure the birth canal - such as by tearing vaginal tissues and the muscles between the vagina and the anus (perineal muscles). Fetal macrosomia can cause a baby to become wedged in the birth canal (shoulder dystocia), sustain birth injuries, or require the use of forceps or a vacuum device during delivery (operative vaginal delivery). Possible maternal complications of fetal macrosomia might include: If a rare medical condition is suspected, your health care provider might recommend prenatal diagnostic tests and perhaps a visit with a genetic counselor, depending on the test results. If these risk factors aren't present and fetal macrosomia is suspected, it's possible that your baby might have a rare medical condition that affects fetal growth. Women older than 35 are more likely to have a baby diagnosed with fetal macrosomia.įetal macrosomia is more likely to be a result of maternal diabetes, obesity or weight gain during pregnancy than other causes. If your pregnancy continues by more than two weeks past your due date, your baby is at increased risk of fetal macrosomia. Most babies who weigh more than 9 pounds, 15 ounces (4,500 grams) are male. Male infants typically weigh slightly more than female infants. Up to the fifth pregnancy, the average birth weight for each successive pregnancy typically increases by up to about 4 ounces (113 grams). The risk of fetal macrosomia increases with each pregnancy. Gaining too much weight during pregnancy increases the risk of fetal macrosomia. Excessive weight gain during pregnancy.Fetal macrosomia is more likely if you're obese. Also, if you weighed more than 8 pounds, 13 ounces at birth, you're more likely to have a large baby. If you've previously given birth to a large baby, you're at increased risk of having another large baby. If your diabetes isn't well controlled, your baby is likely to have larger shoulders and greater amounts of body fat than would a baby whose mother doesn't have diabetes.
Fetal macrosomia is more likely if you had diabetes before pregnancy (pre-gestational diabetes) or if you develop diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes). Many factors might increase the risk of fetal macrosomia - some you can control, but others you can't.