Normal Fetal Growth

Objectives

Define normal fetal growth in the population

 * optimal rate of growth that is determined by genetic potential when it is neither abnormally restricted or stimulated. It's difficult to measure clinically, so we typically look at growth within 2 standard deviations of the mean.
 * note that genetic/racial/ethnic differences exist, so +/- 2SD is a coarse tool.
 * charting high risk pregnancies on a growth curve (both fetus size and placenta size) can identify a problem like intrauterine growth restriction.

Reconstruct normal human fetal and placental growth curves over gestation
See notes

List the major fuel oxidized by the fetus

 * 1) glucose
 * 2) amino acids
 * 3) lactate
 * 4) acetate
 * 5) fatty acids (least important)