small baby

[stickermadkid]

I had my 36 week midwife appointment yesterday and she did my measurements but I was measuring small so she sent me for a scan and then I had to go to the maternity assesment unit after for monitoring.

So the scan showed baby was small - below 10th percentile, although baby is developing fine. So I have now gone from low risk to high risk and am under consultant care.

I have an appointment next week with the consultant and another scan.
The doctor I was talking to yesterday vaguely mentioned about being induced early as baby would do better out feeding and would gain weight better with milk rather than inside.
I suppose I have to wait till next week before I find out whats happening but its making me a bit anxious (a week has never felt so long)

Has anyone else had an induction for a small baby? How early would they do it do you think?

[sianilovesbeingamummy]

I have been closely monitored for the past 6weeks or so for the exact same reason. I am now 36 weeks and hubs is still measuring small but as she has grown at each scan I have been sent for they don't seem overly worried t the moment but me myself feels as though baby hasn't grown at all this past week. Have consultant tomorrow and have a feeling he will be sending me for yet another scan to monitor her growth... I have been told that if she does stop growing then they will want to get her out but I am booked for section in 4weeks anyway so I would just have my section date moved forwards! I was induced with my first though so would just imagine they would break your waters for you Nd let your labour begin naturally. Should things take too long though I would imagine that they will perform a section. If baby will grow better being out of you then this is all you should think about really...... You are nearly full term so bubs will be fully developed just a little smaller than average. Let us know how u
You get on xx

[Twinklestarstwinklestars]

My ds2 had iugr and was born on the 0.4th percentile, I was induced at 38 weeks. I had a fast labour (20 mins) and he had fluid on his lungs so went to scbu just for a few hours until it cleared.

They thought ds1 was small too but he was born weighing 6lb 3 at 39 weeks after being induced.

Am now pregnant with dc3 and have a growth scan in 2 weeks when I'll be 28 weeks then every 4 weeks, so am relieved they're keeping a close eye this time, they usually start to slow down after 30 weeks so far this one is measuring ok.

[Twinklestarstwinklestars]

They couldn't break my waters either so had the pessary.

[SevenReasonsToSmile]

Try not to worry, some babies are just small, it doesn't always mean there's something wrong. Your baby would likely be fine if they wanted to induce now, DS was born at 35+5, perfectly healthy, didnt even need SCBU and came home after 3 days. He was on the 9th centile at 4lb 9oz, and is still small for his age now at 4, he's just little.

[Toowittoowoo]

Try not to worry at this stage. With DD1 I had a lot of scans because she was measuring small and she was born 40 +14 at 7lbs 3oz (which is not unusally small at all). In the end I was induced but that was because I was 2 weeks late and not because she was small.

With hindsight I am grateful that I had so many scans in late pregnancy as they would have picked up is anything else was going on. At the time I was no grateful at all and just concerned about the baby and all the time I was having to take off work to sit around in a hospital waiting room!

Try not to worry - it is more than likely nothing and your baby might just be naturally small.

[stickermadkid]

Thanks all for taking the time to read and share your experiences. I had dd naturally at 40+3 and she was 6lbs 8oz so was smallish but had no extra scans or anything so was just worrying - I suppose its normal mum to be emotions mixed in as well.

I will speak to the consultant next week and he will hopefully be able to explain much more than the doctor did yesterday.

[SevenReasonsToSmile]

Yes 6lb 8oz is smaller than average, sounds like it could just be normal for you. I'm 32 weeks and been told mine is on the small side but not small enough to be a concern. I'm not overly worried, given that DS was 9th centile for weight and DD was 25th I just dont make big babies.