Learn Glossary clinical condition

Macrosomia

Excessive fetal growth, typically defined as birth weight greater than 4,000 to 4,500 g or above the 90th percentile for gestational age.

Also: Large for Gestational Age

Strongly associated with maternal diabetes and obesity, excessive gestational weight gain, and post-term pregnancy. Increases risk of shoulder dystocia, birth injury, neonatal hypoglycemia, and later childhood obesity and metabolic disease. Prevention involves preconception health, glycemic control, and appropriate gestational weight gain per IOM guidelines.

How one textbook covers it

  • Krause and Mahan's Food and the Nutrition Care Process, 16th ed.Chapter 14

    Strongly associated with maternal diabetes and obesity, excessive gestational weight gain, and post-term pregnancy. Increases risk of shoulder dystocia, birth injury, neonatal hypoglycemia, and later childhood obesity and metabolic disease. Prevention involves preconception health, glycemic control, and appropriate gestational weight gain per IOM guidelines.

Related terms

Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Low Birth Weight