Lindsey Bowen, of Gunter, Texas, knew from the beginning of her pregnancy that her baby was at risk for Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR). "I have a bicornuate uterus, which means that instead of being one open space, my uterus is divided in half," says Bowen. "During the pregnancy, only half of my uterus expanded, so Caleb was only on the left side."

During the pregnancy, Bowen had at least 15 sonograms to check Caleb's growth. He did well until late in the pregnancy when suddenly his growth slowed. When Caleb measured only in the seventh percentile at Bowen's 39-week appointment, her doctor cheerfully informed her "with IUGR at 38 weeks, we deliver!"

Caleb was born small, but healthy, and was able to go home right away. Bowen says she was never too worried, because her doctor and Caleb's pediatrician both assured her that babies with IUGR later in pregnancy tend to do very well once they're out of the womb.

Intrauterine growth restriction, also known as intrauterine growth retardation or fetal growth restriction, is when the fetus is smaller than expected for the number of weeks of pregnancy. IUGR is suspected if a fetus has an estimated weight lower than the 10th percentile. In other words, the fetus weighs less than 90 percent of the average of all other fetuses of the same gestational age.

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