Question
If, during pregnancy, an abnormal increase in abdominal size is detected and it is close to the time of delivery, doctors may suggest a cesarean section due to the possibility of the fetus being a large-for-gestational-age baby. What is the definition of a large-for-gestational-age baby?
Answer
In medical terms, a large-for-gestational-age baby refers to a full-term newborn whose weight exceeds the normal range. According to the definition of Chinese obstetrics, a newborn weighing 4000 grams or more within one hour after birth is considered a large-for-gestational-age baby. This condition is usually related to excessive nutritional supplementation during pregnancy, leading to increased weight in the newborn. In the 1980s, the proportion of large-for-gestational-age babies was only about 3%, but with economic development and improved living standards, the average birth weight of newborns has gradually increased, and the incidence of large-for-gestational-age babies has also risen accordingly.