To decline growth scans

[Orangepen13]

First child born slightly below 5lb 5oz so I have been offered three extra growth scans (28,32,36 weeks) in my current pregnancy

Ive heard so many inaccuracies with growth scans that can sometimes result in lots of panic, so I’m inclined to decline them. AIBU? And what are others experience of growth scans?

for context, I’m petite and my partner is also fairly lean, and first was born at 37+6 so we’re not surprised at all that she was small

I took extra scans. No concerns with babies size, but offered as I was "high risk" and accepted so they could check growth, placenta, fluid etc. They aren't 100% accurate of course, but FWIW they were spot on with predicted weight for my little one. You absolutely can't be forced into any interventions without your consent whatever the scans say. For me, the extra checks helped a lot with a very anxious pregnancy, despite worrying a lot before each appointment! There's a great chance your scans will be fine too and will give you peace of mind. And if there is any reason to be concerned about babies size later down the line, wouldn't you rather know as soon as possible in order to make an informed decision?

Edited to add- I don't think you are unreasonable if you choose to forego them! Do whats right for you 😊

My DH cousin refused growth scans with her first child. The baby had stopped growing and was still born around 36/38 weeks.

Just wanted to say, unlike some posters, I can totally understand why you'd rather not have the extra scans.
I think that additional monitoring during pregnancy can sometimes cause unnecessary anxiety.
It did for me.
However, the sensible thing would be to have the scans anyway.
It's very unlikely they will pick anything up, but if they do, they could save your child's life.

You can decide what to do regarding an induction if/when the time arises and you have all the facts. Better to know what you're dealing with IMO

I'd accept. You'd feel awful if you declined and baby was stillborn.

Inductions aren't the devil either. Remember that the most important thing is you and baby get through birth safely.

100% get the scans.

Growth scans picked up that DC was not growing well and needed to come out early. Could have wound up stillborn.

I should caveat my reply with this: I also understand when women are wary of medical intervention having had it in the past, although that’s not my personal experience, nor that of anyone I know. Yes, my induction really wasn’t my ideal birth but the monitoring as part of it made it clear that my daughter was in distress. Wouldn’t have been the case if I refused monitoring which is what was encouraged arguably as part of a course I did.

I had the extra scans (different reason) and I loved it! It an unbelievably long time between the 20 week scan and the birth. It was so nice to be able to get the extra look at him in there and have the reassurance everything was ok. I would definitely listen to the advice of professionals who have trained for years to be able to say they know what they’re on about.

Ours were very accurate- but even if they hadn’t been having extra scans was fab! I even volunteered to be part of a research piece so I got loads of scans in addition to all the extra ones I had for being old and they were really detailed and done with the head of foetal medicine. I was in about once a fortnight.

Can’t understand why anyone would decline more scans. So reassuring to see it all progressing.

Yes, my growth scan turned out to be bang on unfortunately despite my belly saying otherwise. I had a tiny baby but a huge stomach. I really hoped they’d be way out and she’d be as big as she felt.

I would get the scans personally. As others have said it’s worth getting them then making informed decisions based on what they show, whilst keeping potential issues with accuracy in mind.

However I do not think you’re being unreasonable at all trying to make an informed decision about this. Some people get really riled up about pregnant women considering their options and wanting to be informed which I find a bit bizarre.

I would definitely take the scans. I had additional scans for both my children. With my first baby a growth scan picked up a reduced blood flow from the placenta and slowed growth rate, so I had an induction (and straightforward birth, everything fine with baby after he was born). No issues at all with my second baby, but I found it reassuring to have the additional scans.

We went down this route. The scans are wholly inaccurate in my experience (also growth reasons) but we made the best of it and saw it as a chance to see the baby etc

I don't think you are being unreasonable.

I've been offered growth scans due to my second baby being small.... and I've accepted them because I want a homebirth ideally so I need to know there's no issues
In your situatition I don't really see the necessity tbh.
For me I am not a small person.. I'm 5ft 8 and my first child was 10lbs... so I understand why it was worrying that my second was much smaller... it may be indicative of some problem with my placenta
But It sounds like you are just a petite person who has small babies tbh..
So in your situation I would wonder what the point of the scans was

Have the scans. If they are offering them they are needed. Nobody gets extra scans for the sake of it.

I was in the same position as you last year. The app (tommys) flagged I was a potential issue for no other reason than my first was a bit small like me. It was such a waste of time. Its great nhs looks for risks but depends how worried you are. I declined after 2 and my little one was perfect like my first

Just to add they would of corrected your first ones birthweight for their gestation, when they say she was small they usually mean she was in the bottom 10th centile for weight compared with other babies born at exactly 37+6. Since they introduced growth scans to more closely monitor pregnancies meeting certain risk criteria it is estimated that it prevents 1 baby being still born for every 1000 deliveries (a baby every 2-3 months in the average size maternity unit) and to say an unexpected stillbirth (which these often were) is an absolutely devastating occurrence in any unit. By all means weigh up the pros and cons if they suggest induction as yes they do suggest induction from anything from quite minimal risk (in climate of litigation) to serious issues but better to at least have that information in the first place.

I had extra growth scans with my 2nd. Think it was because of my age/weight. But I liked seeing more of baby. They also found a problem with the cord but it was resolved the next week. However she was born very quickly at home with the cord Round her neck twice.

You can take the scans and have a conversation about any interventions your care team think you should have.

I'll take the scans op. I'm currently 38 weeks pregnant and I've had growth scans due to my eldest daughter(15 now) being small as they said. She was 6lbs1oz and my son (3rd) being a big baby. He weight 9lbs6oz.

I had my last scan at 35 weeks and already baby was weighing 7lbs so I think she will be a big baby too.

Without the scans, I'd never had known my daughter had kidney problems, or that the blood flow in the cord was too high, or that she had too much fluid around her. Take the scans, you can make decisions with all of the information you're given, it's better than making decisions with no information.

I had growth scans with both mine and with both they were talking about early induction - DD because she was 'so big' - actually born 10 days overdue at 7lb12, and DS because they were worried his growth had completely slowed down - born at 39weeks at 7lb6.
So I would absolutely have them, to check all aspects of growth, but take the predicted weight with a pinch of salt and ask lots of questions about why, and what the actual risks are if they mention induction.

Definitely this😊

What is DOI?

I had about ten growth scans with my second. It never occurred to me to decline. A healthcare professional wants to make sure your child is ok!!