Inadequate bump at 35 weeks

[soontobe3]

Just returned from routine ante-natal check and being sent for a scan as I'm only measuring 31 cms instead of the 35+ expected for my dates (which are accurate). Need I be alarmed?

[Gobbledigook]

Well I've got 2 friends who had this on their second babes and both were fine - smallish babies when born (under 7lb) but perfectly fine and in proportion.

I was also sent for a scan because I looked small with ds3 (compared to prev 2 pg) but he was actually the biggest when born at 8lb 10oz! So much for a small baby!

I wouldn't worry till worry worries you (my dh's nan's fav saying and a good one to stick to if you aren't neurotic like me!).

[milliways]

I was induced at 36 weeks due to small for dates bump - scan said 4-4.5lb, DD arrived at 6lb 2oz same week. (I had v.little water). However, DS was monitored due to DD being small, & arrived at 9lb 6oz. I am sure are fine. Take the midwives/doctors advice.

[hamster]

It sounds completely normal. My friend had no bump till she was nearly 30weeks, and even then when she did show she only looked a size 10
Everyone's different, and even if baby is a little petite, as long as s/he is healthy that's all that matters!

[lemonsquash]

soontobe3 try not to worry too much - I had to have a scan too 2 weeks ago as my bump was only 32cm at 38 weeks and they thought the baby was not growing as it should. I've been quite little all the way thorugh (if someone else says you're 'neat' I will go crazy!) and due today but I understand how you feel - it is my first and I was terrified. Still am terrified about everything but the scanner was so kind and what was great is they explain everything to you so really puts your mind at rest. All was ok and they were happy with growth from the measurements taken. The best thing was to be able to see the baby at this stage as last time was 20 week scan, so maybe try and think like that.
hope all is OK with you and baby at your scan - sure it will be.

[soontobe3]

Thanks for all the reassuring posts.
I've had my fill of "neat" comments too!

As you say lemonsquash it'll be nice to have another scan after the long interval.
Best of luck with your imminent delivery - that's the only way you do find out for sure the size of the baby!

[chipmonkey]

!

[starlover]

soontobe3, a friend of mine had the most tiny bump ever, you would never have thought she was full term... they kept telling her that she was small for her dates etc etc...

jessica arrived weighing 10lb 3oz !!!!!

I still don't know how the hell she got her in that tiny bump though!!!

[bensmum3]

I had a very small bump,some people didn't realise I was pregnant,no one mentioned it until I started developing pre eclampsia at 36 wks, scans showed the baby was only 2lb, so I was induced, dd was born at 4lb 10, perfect in every way,
That was 10 years ago,shes still petite, but makes up for it in lots of other ways, so as long as there are no other problems I wouldn't think you need to worry.

[blueteddy]

I wouldn't worry about it either.
My friend at work didn't show for ages & when she did it was barely noticable.
She left to go on maternity leave a couple of weeks b4 the baby's due date, with the tiniest of bumps ever!
She was a week late & I joked that she wasn't actually pregnant at all, as she didn't look very pregnant.
She gave birth to an 8lb 13oz baby boy!!!

[Hayls]

Try not to worry, I had the same thing at 34 weeks and had an extra scan, which showed she was fine. DD was born on her due date at 7lb 2oz. Take it as an extra opportunity to see your baby!

[Hayls]

And the day before I went on mat leave somebody asked me something and when I said I wouldn't be able to deal with it because I would be away from the next day she asked where I was going. She was amazed when I told her I was pregnant (think I wsa about 36 weeks)

[alux]

People are a bit surprised everytime I tell them how pg I am (36+ wks). On Tuesday the m/w had a good feel around and commented 'not much room left in there'. I took it to mean that I've got all baby in there which is why she is not worried about size. She had to work hard to feel the head which she determines is deep in the back of my pelvis.

[blueteddy]

I also put on very little with both my pregnancies & my ds's were 8lb 5oz & 7lb 7oz.
When I was in early labour with ds2, the MW felt my stomach & said "Petite baby"
He was 7lb 7oz & a week early!
When I wore my long coat done up, people did not notice my bump at all & I remember going to get my hair cut when ds2 was 2 weeks old and the hairdresser (Who had seen me a week b4 ds2 was born) said to me "Have you been up to much?"
I answered her with "Oh, I have had a baby!"
She was VERY shocked, as she didn't realise I was pregnant!!!

[alicatsg]

Try not to worry but get a scan to set your mind at rest. DS was the same - I found out at 36 weeks that the dozy midwife had been concerned for the past 6 weeks and they confidently told me he's be extremely small. He was 5lb and fine and is now a small tornado.

[pupuce]

As a doula I have to say that this is a frequent issue which leads to nothing... but it certialy does make women worry a lot !!!!
My 2 last clients had this... one was consistently told "big baby" then at 38 weeks she had another MW and she called the hospital straight away saying baby was way too small (measuring 32 weeks) ..... the mum called me in floods of tears as she had also been told to prepare herself for a section... anyway next day OB saw her and was very surprised she had been referred as he felt she looked and measured nornal, she had a scan, all absolutely fine, she delivered at 41 weeks a 7lbs 4oz baby.
And the other mum (only 2 weeks ago) had a similar scare and her baby was 8lbs 9oz at 40 weeks.
So it is usually nothing but it does scare plenty of woman... I think there is a lot to be said to getting too much info !

[otto]

This happened to me too. Are you tall? The midwife who did my scan said it was quite common in tall women as the baby has more room inside, so sticks out less, if you see what I mean. Hope all goes well at your scan.

[Eulalia]

I was like this with my first and had to have an extra scan. He was fine and a bit small, 6lbs 2oz at 8 days late when born. He was also engaged quite early on so most of his head was right down which didn't give me much of a bump. However this usually just happens with the first baby and I guess from your name that this isn't your first? Good luck.

[lou33]

i was v small until about 7m pg, was wearing my usual clothes for dd1, and even after that i wasn't huge. Baby was 6lb 6 when she came at 39 weeks

[QueenEagle]

Wow! how is it that virtually everyone I speak to/hear about has had really small babies? My biggest was 9lb 14oz and my 15wk old was 2 weeks early and weighed 9lb 1oz!

[soontobe3]

Wow - I'm overwhelmed by the response on this.
Many thanks it is very reassuring as I have to wait until Monday for the scan.

This is my third and I do feel significantly smaller this time than previously, but as both my DDs were good sizes (10lbs at 40 wks, and 8lbs at 37wks) here's hoping this is nothing to worry about and maybe I'm just in for an easier delivery!

I'm not especially tall (about 5' 6") and nor is my DH (6') and never did work out why DD1 was the size she was - I've been tested for gestational diabetes and it's ruled out.

I find I've worried more about stuff with each successive PG simply because I now know so much more about all the things that can go wrong.

[mummylonglegs]

From about 30 weeks pregnant onwards, every bloody time I saw my midwife I was sent for a scan because I was 'too small' and every time I had a scan it showed that dd was small-ish but fine. She was 5 lbs, 9oz when born so absolutely fine. She's 2 1/2 now and still small-ish.

Every time they sent me for a scan I got worried and every time it was ok I kept thinking why do they keep sending me?!

[Hazellnut]

I had a bump which always measured the right size for dates but dd was 4 lbs 9 oz so no correlation here !

[Mosschops30]

Message withdrawn

[Petall]

I had the same with both of my babies and had to have emergency scans. The measurements are only a guide, I'm sure if you are tall or have a longish abdomen, then there is more room for your baby to hide. I have a friend who is all legs and shortish body, her bumps were huge as there was nowhere else for her to expand but out!
My babies were 7lb 7oz, and 8lb 3.5oz much to everyones surprise, so bigger than most of my "bigger bumped" friends!
Good Luck anyway, Petall