Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) occurs in up to 10 percent of pregnancies and is the cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. IUGR is defined as fetal mass below the 10th percentile for the appropriate gestational age. The etiology of IUGR is multifactorial and includes genetic factors, placental insufficiency, maternal diseases, and infections. However, the most common etiology is related to reduced uteroplacental transfer of nutrients and oxygen. Under unfavorable intrauterine conditions, the fetus adapts to changes in the cardiovascular, metabolic, and endocrine systems. Fetal growth arrest often causes premature birth, so the result is a premature newborn. Prematurity is a risky condition in itself, and such newborns are at greater risk of developing early neonatal complications such as perinatal asphyxia, hypothermia, hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, polycythemia, jaundice, feeding difficulties and necrotizing enterocolitis. IUGR and prematurity act synergistically on the severity of the early clinical course, but also on further growth and development, especially when it comes to psychomotor and cognitive development. According to Barker's hypothesis of fetal programming, epigenetic changes created prenatally form the basis for the development of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular, metabolic, renal and neurological diseases during life. IUGR represents a serious public health problem that implies insufficient growth of the fetus in the mother, with complications that do not end during the neonatal period, but continue during childhood and adulthood, and can have a lasting impact on the health of the child and adult.