Referred for growth scan at 35 weeks - reassure me!

[ophrys]

Just as the title says really! Bump was measuring small at my midwife appointment yesterday, it's grown a bit since the last one but not as much as it should have done so I'm having another scan.
She did tell me not to panic but it's difficult not to be a little bit worried as I'm not really sure how likely it is that anything is wrong, or how much of a problem it is if there is. Has anyone else had a growth scan around this stage for measuring small? What did the reason turn out to be? Any experiences would be appreciated!

[Rawls]

Not me but my best friend had to have TWO growth scans with her first and has just had one with her second. Her first baby went 5 days overdue and weighed nearly 8lbs. He measured small all the way through, the midwives were worried as her funds always measured about three weeks plus behind and she didn't show much either. But it was all fine! she just carried him under her ribs! Really really try not to worry, it is unlikely that anything is wrong, its just to make sure.

[Rawls]

FUNDUS

[Isabella24]

Hi, I had this in my first pregnancy. I'd measured fine all through then around 37 weeks I was measuring small (can't remember how much by). I was referred for a growth scan and everything was fine. Baby was born weighing 8lb 7. So not small! Don't know where he was hiding!

I worried too but try not to. They'll check baby and the amount of fluid and the likelihood is everything will be fine. If there is a problem (eg low fluid) they will manage it.

[Isabella24]

Ps tape measuring bump is not always accurate

[TarkaTheOtter]

I think this is very, very common. Most people I know ended up having a scan in the third trimester for one reason or another.
I had joint consultant and midwife care and on one occasion had fundal height measured by both clinics on the same day. Their measurements differed by 3cm so it's by no means an exact science.

[purplemurple1]

I measured small throughout at 24 weeks I measured 17 and at 35 weeks I measured 32/31. I was always told not to worry, the tape isn't accurate and the position of the baby affects it a lot.
I had a position scan at 37 weeks and he was measuring bang on for size, he was born a week early at 3kg.

Hope it goes well for you and you get a nice extra look.

[ThedementedPenguin]

With my first I gave birth at 40+11 and was measuring 5weeks smaller (by tape) he was 7lb 7oz.

My second was measuring around 7 weeks smaller (by tape) and she was born 40+6 weighing 7lb 2oz.

Try not to worry as chances are baby will be fine.

[ophrys]

Thankyou so much everyone!
I have had a little read of some old threads on here too and it does seem really quite common, which makes me feel a lot better! I'm hoping he was just in a funny position or something the other day and hopefully the scan will be fine

[lunalovegood84]

I had a growth scan at 33 weeks because my fundal measurement hadn't increased for 3 weeks. Baby was 95th centile on that scan, born 11 lbs 9 oz at 42 weeks. I remember being really worried but it's so imprecise. As you can see even a bruiser like mine somehow managed to tuck himself in when my bump was measured!

[MadameJosephine]

Hi OP, I'm a midwife sonographer and I get several of these referrals every day and vast majority of the time everything is absolutely fine. Unfortunately, although not the most accurate tool, fundal height measurements are the only thing community midwives have to assess fetal growth and if you measure slightly smaller (or larger) than the normal range for gestation generally automatically triggers a scan but in my experience a lot of women just hide their babies very well!

Good luck, hope it all goes well

[LIG1979]

I was measuring small throughout my last pregnancy but a growth scan showed a normal size baby. Was told it was probably because I had strong abs from pre-pregnancy holding it all in. I quite liked that reason for my small bump!

Fairly sure my abs aren't quite as strong this pregnancy.

[alliemarg]

I'm 40 + 5 and measuring 34 so we're having another growth scan tomorrow. I remember being worried sick when I was sent for a growth scan around your stage but it was all fine and really reassuring to see the placenta/waters were all as they should be. I've been about fifth percentile by tape measure but around 10% on the growth scans, which they were totally happy with. You might find baby is short - ours is right at the bottom of the graph for fundal length.

This time around we aren't really worried about the scan, just happy to check all is well but I remember the nerves the first time - try and stay calm! x

[summerlovingliz]

I had to have a growth scan.. They told me at the scan that the baby was far from small

[Melodygrace]

I had to have one with my first. I had a tiny bump. They guessed she would be a 7 lb 7 she was 5lb 9. Full term. Don't worry they are quite common. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

[ItsAlwaysBetterOnHoliday]

Just to say I also measured a couple of centimetres small throughout, got sent for a growth scan at around 30 weeks, everything was fine and baby was 7lb 4oz at birth - some of us are just small! Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

[ItsAlwaysBetterOnHoliday]

Oh and baby was slap bang on 50th percentile on all the scans and he seems to be staying that way since he was born - so it doesn't necessarily mean you'll have a smaller than average baby either! People kept commenting on how small my bump was and it did make me a little paranoid at times, but it was reassuring to be able to tell people 'nope he's bang on average'.

[ophrys]

Even more of you! Thankyou for all the replies, so reassuring to know it's so common - feeling a lot better about it now

[ChippingInLatteLover]

I don't know what's going on at the moment, but every single person I know that's pregnant has had to go for one?! Have they got new equipment to try out or a tick quota they haven't met???

Really do NOT worry. All the babies that have been born have been perfect :)

[Flexibilityisquay]

I had this too. I ended up having several growth scans. The biggest I got was 30 cm, and I remember being convinced there must have been a problem because my bump just wasn't growing. DS was only 6 lb 6 oz, 10 days late, but perfectly healthy.

[alliemarg]

If you don't mind me asking, for those of you who had growth scans for small measurements, did your babies tend to come late? Wondering if this one needs more time to bake as the head isn't even engaged!

[MewlingQuim]

I measured small and got sent for extra scans, but the sonagrapher said I just had good stomach muscles

DD was 3kg and born at 41 weeks.

[LIG1979]

No my dd came at 38 weeks, 6 lb 4 oz. At the growth scan they said 8 lb but I guess that would have been a 40 week weight.

[purplemurple1]

Mine came a week early but I had measured small because his head was always in my pelvis.

[alliemarg]

Thanks everyone, seems like size has little to do with when they arrive. Hope the scan went well OP!

[ophrys]

You've all made me feel so much better, thankyou everyone.
Scan's on Tuesday so just have to wait and see now!