Question

A small-for-gestational-age newborn is identified as one who ___.

A) Weighs less than 5 pounds at birth
B) Is below the 10th percentile for their gestational age
C) Has a head circumference smaller than the average for their age
D) Displays delayed neurological reflexes at birth

Answer 1

A small-for-gestational-age newborn is identified as one who is below the 10th percentile for their gestational age, which takes into account both the baby's weight and length in relation to the length of the pregnancy.

Step-by-step explanation:

A small-for-gestational-age newborn is identified as one who is below the 10th percentile for their gestational age. This classification is not solely based on weight, but rather on a comparison to standard growth charts that consider both weight and the baby's age in weeks since conception. Therefore, simply being under a certain weight, such as less than 5 pounds, does not automatically classify a newborn as small for gestational age. This term specifically refers to babies who are smaller in size than what is expected for their age in the womb, which includes considerations of both weight and length.