Gestation Network
The Gestation Network aims to highlight the importance of an individual approach in the assessment of fetal growth, based on maternal, fetal and pregnancy characteristics. The Gestation Network is administered by the Perinatal Institute
Fetal growth is of principal concern in perinatal surveillance. It has relevance for:
-
antenatal care: failure to thrive in utero can lead to fetal death; antepartum stillbirth is the largest contributor to perinatal mortality in most developed countries
-
intrapartum surveillance: growth restricted fetuses are more likely to get distressed during labour.
-
neonatal care: babies who are small due to prematurity or growth restriction are more prone to neonatal complications.
The Gestation Network site contains free software for calculating gestational age and customised fetal growth limits and birthweight centiles.
Network website: www.gestation.net