Large for gestational age (LGA)
Key points
- The term "large for gestational age", or LGA, means a fetus or infant is larger or more developed than normal for the baby's gestational age.
- The measurement is calculated based on the estimated gestational age of the fetus or infant compared to what is considered normal height, weight, head size, and developmental level for a child of the same age and gender.
- Gestational age is a measure of the growth and development of the fetus in the uterus and the infant after birth.
- A fetus or infant larger than expected for the age and gender, or with a birth weight above the 90th percentile, is referred to as LGA.
Definition
The term "large for gestational age", or LGA, means a fetus or infant is larger or more developed than normal for the baby's gestational age. Gestational age is a measure of the growth and development of the fetus in the uterus and the infant after birth. A fetus or infant larger than expected for the age and gender, or with a birth weight above the 90th percentile, is referred to as LGA.
Information
The measurement is calculated based on the estimated gestational age of the fetus or infant compared to what is considered normal height, weight, head size, and developmental level for a child of the same age and gender.
Written and revised by
David Cohen, M.D.
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