The following table lists the risk factors associated with IUGR.

However, most patients who develop this condition are unaware until they give birth and are informed that their baby is not as large as it should be. While there may be clinical signs of IUGR developing, these are often observed when the growth process is significantly disturbed. One of the most common risks for IUGR is inadequate blood flow to the uterus which results from either abnormal vessels within the uterus and placenta, maternal fatigue, or maternal stress.