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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be worried about baby’s measurements

21 replies

CandleFlames · 03/03/2020 13:02

Posting for traffic as no response in pregnancy section. Hope that’s okay as could really do with some reassurance or advice.

I had a growth scan on Friday at 32 weeks 3 days (now 33 weeks) and he was measuring average for everything except his weight. He was 4lb 2oz and on the 27th percentile. Is this okay? They didn’t seem concerned and said he was measuring well but I’m just concerned because over the past 5 weeks he’s gone from being on the 37th percentile to the 41st and now the 27th. Is this normal?

OP posts:

MonaLisaDoesntSmile · 03/03/2020 13:20

If the hospital didnt seem concerned why are you?

Curiosity101 · 03/03/2020 13:26

Did someone explain the results to you after your scan? If not then I can understand why you would worry. They wouldn't have allowed you to leave without a follow up scan appointment if they were concerned though.

If you are particularly worried then I'd recommend calling your local midwives and having a chat with one of them to put your mind at ease.

curlsnotfrizz · 03/03/2020 13:30

27th percentile is still very much normal. we cannot all be on the 50ths for everything. If the hospital is unconcerned, I would be as well. Apart from that, the weight is not a measurement. They can measure head circumference, femur lengths etc. weight is always an estimation based on measurements but never a measurement in itself in prenatal scans - and often incorrect.

Original poster

CandleFlames · 03/03/2020 14:13

Thank you everyone. They didn’t really explain it as the appointment was more about my c-section so when I got home and looked at the charts I was concerned. Thanks for the reassurance.

OP posts:

Firsttimemumofone · 03/03/2020 14:13

Just to put your mind at ease, I was initially told my baby was too small (10% line) . . . She was born on the 97% (bit of a shocking labour and none of the midwives could work out why until she was out).
Take the weight measurements with a pinch of salt as they are so rough due to the placenta size/ amount of water etc.
If your midwife isnt worried, you do not need to be. Enjoy your last few weeks of pregnancy - the peace and quiet will stop very soon haha.

Crunchymum · 03/03/2020 14:15

Why are you having so many scans?

Original poster

CandleFlames · 03/03/2020 15:00

@crunchymum I have ulcerative colitis and no large intestine, I have gestational diabetes and I have bipolar disorder of which I am on medication which can affect the baby’s growth. So I have scans every 2-4 weeks.

OP posts:

Crunchymum · 03/03/2020 15:08

Thanks for clarifying - I was wondering how you knew the baby had dipped centiles over the past few weeks.

I think the best way to look at it is that a) the HCP's are not concerned c) you are being seen and scanned regularly so any issues should be flagged.

WombatStewForTea · 03/03/2020 15:19

I had something similar (also IBD) and it looked like baby had jumped up percentiles on one scan and then dropped below on the next. It turned out the earlier scan had been plotted on the wrong weeks gestation so actually it had stayed consistent throughout. Maybe check the same hasn't happened here!

Pentium85 · 03/03/2020 15:22

Firstly, if the hospital aren’t concerned you should be.
Secondly, I have 3 growth scans which all predicted a 4-5lb baby- he was 8.5lbs so in my experience they aren’t reliable

20viona · 03/03/2020 15:23

27th centile is fine. My daughter was born at 37 weeks 5lb 3oz 4th centile.

ChocolateChipMuffin2016 · 03/03/2020 15:25

I had extra scans when pregnant with my DD, they were worried she was not growing properly, they only started to worry when she went below 10% and then didn't go up between scans (she did at the next one and was 6.3 when she was born 2 weeks early, so in fact not so small!). As others have said, if they were worried you would be flagged (my god the drama that I had when she didn't grow between scans! I was in hospital more than I was at home!) but if you're ever worried call your community midwife and ask to see them, they're usually very helpful (in my personal experience).

namesneeded · 03/03/2020 15:34

If there was anything to be concerned about they would have discussed it with you, so try not to worry!

My first DS is two now, he was born below the 2nd centile, and his small size was picked up towards the end of my pregnancy, so I was induced and he came along early.

I'm currently pregnant with my second DS, and his weight has been dropping. They aren't concerned, I'm having growth scans every 2 weeks. They were worried about the size of his femur so we went for specialist scans, but all okay. So point is, if they think there is a concern or something to worry about they will tell you about it and do something about it

Winterwoollies · 03/03/2020 15:35

Everything between the 1st and 99th centile is normal. They’re not so worried where they fall in the chart, so long as it goes in the right direction for the week of pregnancy. Which it sounds like it is. Babies aren’t going to hold a true course on the graph, but they’re going up and that’s what they want.

Mine is in the 2nd centile and no one is worried, least of all me, because it’s following the course of the graph, just down down.

Isthistrueor · 03/03/2020 15:36

They told me my first was average at a 32 week growth scan, he weighed 10 lbs.

cliodh · 03/03/2020 15:40

If the hospital didnt seem concerned why are you?

Because pregnancy 🤣

Hope everything's ok OP, and congratulations

SleepSleepSleepPLEASE · 03/03/2020 15:54

Another who was told to expect a very average (8lb) baby at 32 weeks. I had an 11lb 4oz baby.

It’s all guess work at this stage imho, try not to worry too much, especially as the hospital don’t seem concerned.

WaitrosesCheapestVodka · 03/03/2020 16:07

27th is really comfortably in the normal range.

Are you tall OP? It might be worth having a look around, we're all differently sized! I know smaller babies under the 10th percentile. They're fine, just a bit small. They might grow and catch up or they might not, there's nothing wrong it either way

SinkGirl · 03/03/2020 16:15

Weight during scans is an estimation so I wouldn’t be so concerned about that. My twins went up and down too, in all measurements. They weren’t concerned until something dropped below the 5th centile.

Dandelion1993 · 03/03/2020 16:16

I had all the scans and extra appointments with my dd2 as she measured small, was even induced due to their worry.

She was 9lb 3oz.

WinterCat · 03/03/2020 16:19

I wouldn’t be worried about that as long as the baby has grown in all areas since your last scan. It’s ok for some of the centiles to differ as long as they roughly follow the same line (no more than two up or down is when a further check will be made to make sure all is ok) and the baby is continuing to grow.

Pregnancy is so stressful at times. Next time you have a scan, look at the paperwork before you leave so you can ask questions and feel reassured at the time.

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