Around 5 percent of babies born in Australia are just a third of the size they should be and suffer lifelong health complications as part of a condition known as fetal growth restriction (FGR).FGR means their growth slows or stops during pregnancy, often due to problems with the placenta, but the exact cause is a mystery. If severe, the baby is delivered prematurely, increasing the risk of death or health problems.
Now, Monash University research has found the answer lies in the blood vessels of the placenta and newborn.
