Classification and Risks of Overweight Newborns

Definition and Classification

• Newborns are classified as small for gestational age (SGA) when their birth weight is below the 10th percentile for their gestational age, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 1, 2
• Severe growth restriction is defined as a birth weight below the 3rd percentile, which is associated with a 3-fold increased risk of stillbirth compared to the 3rd-5th percentile group, as reported by the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 1, 2, 3

Clinical Decision-Making

• The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend using population-based references rather than customized standards when determining fetal weight percentiles, with moderate strength of evidence 4
• Normal-weight women should not exceed 16 kg total weight gain or 0.9 kg per week after the first trimester, as suggested by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 5