Growth scans and small babies

[Rob1n]

Hello all,
I was sent for a scan this week because I was measuring only 30cm at 34 weeks.
The measurements taken on the scan showed that the baby weighed about 4lbs 9oz and the sonographer said this was on the small side of normal but wasn't anything to worry about (placenta flow & fluid amount was also normal). I myself have always been concerned that my bump isn't as big as it should be and I am worried that the baby will be low birthweight.
Does anyone have any experience of this?
Can a baby be too small to be breastfed?
Do small babies have more health problems?
Does anyone know any reasons for small babies given that I have had a healthy pregnancy, don't drink or smoke and have followed all the rules in the book?
Many thanks in advance

[rubyslippers]

small side of normal sounds reassuring as does the placenta function

i had to have a growth scan as baby was measuring small and all was fine

some babies are just smaller than others - you may not know the reason why

both my babies have been around 1 lb under the avergae birth weight for UK babies (so not too bad) and have both been hungry and needed lots of feeding

the best thing for any baby, small or big is breastmilk

talk to your MW for more reassurance too

[bluefootedpenguin]

The fundal measurements are silly. My chart went up and down as I was measured by 6 different people. Sent for growth scans as they were concerned I wasn't very big and that DD would be tiny. Had a very healthy pregnancy but wasn't huge. All growth scans and doppler flow scan were fine and DD weighed 6lb 8oz at 40+5. You still have 6 weeks to go and your baby is just going to keep putting on weight, I think its roughly 1oz a day in the last fortnight so you are probably still going to have a 6lb plus baby. Also, DD fed like a monster and put on 8oz in the first 6 days and kept going with a lb a week at times. She just evened out and caught up. Now tall and slim. Not everyone has big babies!

[LurcioLovesFrankie]

I was in this situation about 2 years ago - and my DS (22 mths) is healthy and happy, though still small for his age. In my case it was down to genetics - I'm small (was 5lb12 at birth), so was my sister and mum, and DS just takes after my side of the family. Like you, scans showed I had normal placental function, so the consultant was happy for me to go to 41 weeks, but then did an elective CS (didn't want to put a small baby through the stress of an induced labour, said he would be happy if I went into labour by myself,but I didn't). DS was 5LB 11 at birth.

My experience was that BF was a bit hard - getting the latch right with a small mouth was tricky. He was also tube fed for a few days as heel pricks before and after the first few feeds suggested he wasn't getting enough and being small, the paediatrician didn't want him to lose any of his birthweight (it also took 5 days for my milk to come in due to the CS). But we got there in the end.

Sorry for the long post, but thought it might help to know of someone who'd been through this who now has a healthy, happy child.