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Pregnancy

Growth scan next week

19 replies

MyBreadIsEggy · 17/09/2016 08:17

Why the title says really.
Been referred for a growth scan next week as DC2 is growing, but he appears to be growing more slowly than expected - fundal height measurements have dropped down centile lines at my last 2 MW appointments. I'll be 34 weeks on Tuesday.
I've researched a bit about growth scans, and came across a list of risk factors for IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction), ie. smoking, being over/underweight, high blood pressure, being over 35, cocaine use etc, and none of those risk factors apply to me. Baby is very active - more so than I remember my Dd ever being!
I know the scan is just a precaution to determine if there is a reason why baby is growing slowly, or if he is just a small baby, but I can't help but be worried something is really wrong DH will be abroad with work next week, so I have to go to the scan by myself. Well, I have no choice but to take my 16 month old with me too as I have no childcare. This is adding to my anxiety about it all. I'm terrified that they will find something is wrong, and I'll be given that information while I'm on my own, and potentially unable to get hold of DH on the phone to keep him informed
Am I just worrying over nothing? Has anyone else been in a similar situation and it's all turned out tone a worry over nothing and had a healthy, but small, full term baby??

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CamMc · 17/09/2016 09:42

Hi there, I'm 38 weeks and was sent for a growth scan two weeks ago. Out of 6 women in my NCT class, I was the fourth to be sent for one in a two week period. All of our scans were absolutely fine.

I was sent for mine because my measurements at the midwife appointment seemed a little larger than they should (the words "monster baby" were used!). Turned out from the scan measurements he is actually under average! The lady who did the scan seemed a little annoyed that they had worried me unnecessarily, but better to be safe than sorry.

Oh and also, my baby has been very, very active from early on - the others in NCT have all been saying that they don't feel anything like I do. Turned out at the scan he was facing with legs and hands forward which is why I could feel EVERYTHING! Luckily he turned earlier this week and giving me a break!

Hope all goes well and try not to worry too much.

panad317 · 17/09/2016 16:52

I've had two in this pregnancy, the first at 32 weeks because I was measuring big and the second was last week at 38 weeks because I was measuring smaller than I was at 36 week appointment! Baby weighed a healthy 7lb 5oz (+/- 1lb)
Try not to worry about it.

MyBreadIsEggy · 17/09/2016 17:22

I'm trying not to worry - my Dd was born at 38 weeks, perfectly healthy, weighing 5lb 15oz, so I think I just have little babies!! I think my anxiety about it is amplified because I have to go by myself

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panad317 · 17/09/2016 20:20

I understand why it won't be nice to go by yourself. But just remember, if there was a massive abnormality with the baby, it would've been picked up in your 20 week scan. Good luck, I'm sure everything will be fine though

Afreshstartplease · 17/09/2016 20:28

Sorry to read about your worries Eggy!

How old is your dd?

They seem to have recently changed how they do the fundal measurement charts. This is my fourth and I've never measured big before as I've measured roughly cm to weeks. This time they have me down as 90-95th percentile.

What I'm trying to say is maybe you do just make little babies and the reason it wasn't picked up like this with your dd is because of the change in how the charts are done?

The old charts were standard one size fits all, new ones go off your height, BMI, ethnicity etc

MyBreadIsEggy · 17/09/2016 21:57

AFresh Dd is 16 months old!

I do have one of the new personalised charts in my notes, that was made by using dd's birth weight and my BMI as a guide to how they would expect this baby to be growing.
I always measured 2-3cm under the number of weeks pregnant I was when I had Dd, but the measurement stayed steady along the same centile line - this time I was 1cm "over" at 26 weeks, bang on expected at 28 weeks, 2cm "under" with the drop down a centile line at 30 weeks, and then had grown 1cm at 32 weeks, but the measurement was still on a downward curve when plotted on the chart if that makes sense?

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Afreshstartplease · 18/09/2016 10:23

Yes I see what you mean

It's good they are going to scan you to check

When first measured this time my measurement was way over 95th, then under 90th, then on 95th, now under 90th again

My line is a bloody zag zag! I think positioning of the baby comes into it a bit too

ohidoliketobe · 18/09/2016 10:29

Hi with DC2 I was sent for fortnightly scans from 30 weeks to 38. I had suffered from hyperemesis throughout my pregnancy. All they will be concerned about will be that baby is getting enough to sustain growth inside you, if there are any doubts they may decide to induce you around 37 weeks. For me they were satisfied that the baby was small but absolutely fine and they were happy to leave me until I went into labour naturally. I gave birth last week at 39+6 to a baby girl 5lb 9 and on 2nd percentile. She's teeny tiny and is in preemie sized clothes. But she is 100% fit and well

MyBreadIsEggy · 18/09/2016 12:16

ohido Congratulations
I'm worried about the early induction thing
I've had such a textbook, straightforward pregnancy so far, I've been doing everything I possibly can to avoid another hospital birth. Obviously my baby's well being is more important than anything and will do whatever I have to do to make sure he is safe and healthy, but I'll be so heartbroken (and terrified) if I can't have my home birth for any reason!

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Afreshstartplease · 18/09/2016 12:32

Hopefully your mind will be put at rest when you have the scan eggy. Is there no one you can take with you to help with dd?

MyBreadIsEggy · 18/09/2016 12:42

AFresh I've asked a couple of friends today, but they either have their own kids and have to do school runs etc or are working. I live too far away from family to ask any of them to come unfortunately. I'm just hoping that she will have a decent nap beforehand, and I can ply her with snacks to keep calm and quiet!!!

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Afreshstartplease · 18/09/2016 12:48

That was my next suggestion! Or would she nap in her pram there?

MyBreadIsEggy · 18/09/2016 12:52

AFresh the beauty that was pushchair naps have been long gone for a while unfortunately!! I'm hoping that as long as everything is running on time at the hospital, we won't be hanging around too much beforehand, and she won't be too bored by the time I have to go in for the scan! Not holding out much hope though....my 20 week scan was over an hour after the appointment time I was given

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Afreshstartplease · 18/09/2016 12:54

My local hospital is awful for time keeping. My 20 week scan we were there three hours!

Perhaps let her run around the waiting room and then she might be happy to sit and eat while you get scanned

Nyancat · 18/09/2016 12:59

I had two small babies and was treated as iugr though noone seems sure whether I might just have small babies. I was scanned every other week with dc2 to check for growth and placental blood flow. I was ultimately induced at 38 weeks as if it is iugr they are loath to allow you to go beyond term as I believe risk of stillbirth increases. I like you think I just have small babies and didn't really want induced but ultimately I felt I couldnt take the risk if something went wrong and id gone against advice. On the other hand dc1 arrived at 36 weeks herself, waters broke at home. Both babies are absolutely fine but tiny!

Inthehighcastle · 18/09/2016 13:10

I was measuring 34 weeks at 38 weeks and was sent for a scan as no growth since last appointment. Scan showed her on the small side but not tiny.out she popped at 39+4 weighing 7lb 4oz. So I think it's not really very accurate. The only thing was as it said in my notes she was small they made me wear the monitor in labour which I didn't really like.

MyBreadIsEggy · 19/09/2016 20:03

Everything was fine!
Nothing wrong that could be causing growth restriction, body all in proportion, placenta and umbilical cord functioning fine - he's just a small baby!!

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panad317 · 19/09/2016 20:07

Good to hear! I bet you're relieved! Good luck with the rest of pregnancy x

MyBreadIsEggy · 20/09/2016 06:07

Thanks panda it is a massive relief to know that there's nothing wrong! But I guess I need to buy more clothes in tiny baby size now! My Dd was 5lb 15oz born at 38 weeks and all I had for the first 24 were newborn clothes that drowned her!

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