Reduced Growth - your experiences please

[goggles43]

Hi all

My DD1 was born at 36 weeks a few years ago and was very low in weight - about 2kg (4 lbs). No-one was sure why but she’s now a healthy (albeit small) toddler.

I’m now 34 weeks with DC2 and have been given growth scans at 28 and 34 weeks.
28 weeks showed baby in 50th percentile and growing well.
But my 34 week scan is showing reduced growth.
All measurements seemed fine but the sonographer was really struggling to get the waist measurement due to “awkward position”.
The result was baby wasn’t following the line and the summary was reduced growth.
Really gutted because I struggled with DD1 being so small which I felt was partly down to my diet/nutrition and ensured to completely overhaul my diet in this pregnancy and have been doing really well.

Anyhow, the doctor said the growth is still “normal” even though it fell below the line, and booked me in for another scan at 36 weeks.
If the growth falls further below the line, they will look to deliver baby as it could be better for baby to be out than in.

Can anyone share their own experience of this please?

I’d like to know if I can choose the date of delivery and how I will go about the delivery.
Will it be Csection or gel Induction? Or anything else?
And how long after inducing is it likely baby will be born?

Sorry for the many questions - was reluctant to talk to doctor as she pretty much said we can discuss after 36 weeks, but now I’m just sat here worrying.

Hope somebody can help.

Thank you

[goggles43]

bump

[Deanetta]

Happy to tell you about my experiences but I wouldn't make assumptions that what happened to me is the norm (I have no idea!)

For info: I gave birth last November. I had multiple high risk factors: High BMI, aged 40, long term high blood pressure, gestational diabetes.

I was having scans every 2 weeks (because of the all risk factors). All fine until week 36, when there had been no growth at all between week 34 and 36.

I was given steroids in order to boost the baby's lungs in preparation for an early delivery. I had to stay in the hospital for 2 nights but I believe that was purely down to the gestational diabetes (on an insulin drip). I was terrified as I'd never spent any time in hospital until then, but the midwives were all lovely, and after I got over the initial shock it was quite nice to lie in bed for a couple of days!

I had daily scans/doppler until week 37. They were not checking for growth in those scans, purely for checking the health of the placenta. The decision had been made that if at any point there was an issue I would be immediately kept in hospital, but if all well I would be induced on week 37. All was well so I went into the hospital at exactly 37 weeks. I don't recall having a choice of the dates but it was all pretty relaxed.

I was given the induction via pessary on Monday at 11am. I had another, and another. Discussions were had about c-sections (I was happy with that, and kept suggesting it!) but due to my weight they wanted that to be an absolute last resort.

Having the pessary put in was uncomfortable in the moment, but passed quickly. I did feel pretty miserable for those few days.. not so much in pain, just like a bowling ball was in my pelvis!

At 8pm on the Thursday my waters broke naturally, just when they had started to discuss taking me to the labour ward to break them.

I went onto the labour ward at 11pm, put straight on a hormone drip. I also had an epidural as requested (which fell out twice!). A long, long day followed. My daughter was born via a little help with a kiwi cap at 3pm on the Friday. She was 2.45kg (2nd centile) and absolutely healthy.

We stayed in hospital for 4 days after birth purely because my temperature spiked in the final stages of labour (no blooding kidding, it was 29 degrees in the room!) and so we were both put on a sepsis pathway, meaning we needed antibiotics as a precaution. I also had an iron infusion. But my baby was absolutely fine, and I felt great. I also very much appreciated those first few days to get used to everything with experienced midwives present!

One thing.. my breastmilk never came in. I will fully admit that I did not want to breastfeed so wasn't exactly trying hard, but not a drop came out of me. I'm not sure if that was due to the early delivery or not.

My daughter is now 7 months old and has been totally healthy... obviously not been officially weighed since March, but she seems to now be tracking nicely on the 25th centile.

I have no idea if that helps or not :)

[goggles43]

Hi @Deanetta thank you so much for your response - really appreciate it. I’m also high risk due to my high BMI. I’m hoping that it showed as reduced growth due to being unable to measure properly, and that baby will be back on track in 2 weeks time. Only time will tell. Anyway, once again, Thank you!

[Deanetta]

No problem. My main advice would be to take your hospital bag with you every time you go to a scan, just in case you are kept in. Or at the very least a good book or your phone and a charger!