Induced at 36 weeks small baby

[Jonesylass]

I have been having many scans and today the consultant confirmed that the baby is still small (approx 3lb 6 at 33 weeks ) and would like to induce labour at 36 weeks.

Does anyone else have experience of this? Did everything turn out ok? I’m scared he’ll have to go to SCBU and will be quite poorly although nothing has been picked up as being wrong with AFI Doppler scans - could it be that he’s just small? I’m petite and 5foot 4

Thanks guys anyone willing to give a handhold today as I’m feeling so down about it all, surely he’s not cooked enough

Hand hold I have no experience of it but I'd think that if they advise induction is the best option then I'd listen. You'll both be in the best place and from what I've heard from parents I know SCBU is absolutely fantastic. They'll have dealt with situations like yours thousands of times, so don't be afraid to ask questions and get peace of mind for yourself.

Hi OP, not much advice to give but I am in similar position in that I am having an elective section at 37 weeks as my baby is weighing smaller than they would like at 4lb 15oz. You still have time for baby to move up the charts and PP is right that you will both be in the best place. I'm terrified but trying to hold on to that thought. I know 37 weeks is considered full term but the small size combined with the need for steroids is worrying and I have had to stop googling and just remain positive. Anyway, I hope everything goes well for you too

Thank you girls

What centile is your baby on? Mines dropped below 5th now. I’m sure it’ll all work out fine for us both, hopefully they’ll both just be small and not need any medical help

She was on 25th, then 15th, then 5th! My first DD was induced weighing 5lb 12oz at 39 weeks so I might just make them small, it is worrying when everyone else has babies varying from 7 to 9lb though! Yes, I'm sure both our babies will just be small and perfect. My DD is a completely healthy toddler now by the way.

Yes! I was induced due to a 'tiny' baby.
I had growth scans from 28 weeks, they almost induced me at 32 weeks as they thought he wasn't growing properly but after a lot of chat between the midwife and consultants they let me go until 37 weeks (I had to be monitored 3times a week and scanned weekly) I was told to brace myself for a very small baby they were predicting between 3 and 4lb.
Anyway I was induced, it was fine, he was born a very healthy 6lb baby boy. He is almost 2 now and is a lovey chunky little monkey.

That’s comforting to hear, my friends just had a 9 pounder! I just don’t like to think he might need taken away or extra help but what happens happens!

My DD was born at 34 weeks and weighed 3 lbs 8 - she is now nearly three and although petite is on the 9th centile and full of energy. She was in special care for three weeks but had no major issues - just needed some extra time before she could feed properly.

Wow I didn’t realise they could get it so wrong ! Perhaps I should stop panick buying hoards of tiny baby clothes now

My little one was diagnosed with iugr at 33+5 after I had gone in for monitoring a few times due to lack of movement. Indelivered at 34 weeks. They think he stopped growing at around 31 weeks but it wasn't picked up despite weekly growth scans.

He weighed 3lb12, spent 2 weeks in Scbu just to grow and to learn to feed, he was tiny but healthy. He was on the 5th percentile, he's 2.5 years now and on the 95th percentile .

It's such a scary time but honestly the Scbu units are so good so if it comes to the point he's safer out than in he will have the very best care.

Jonesy I'm a SCBU nurse and I can tell you: as pps have already said, scans are really, really inaccurate at predicting weight! In addition, your baby will be 36 weeks old already, so even if he is small he should be perfectly alright and might just go over to SCBU for a little while to make sure he is feeding and growing alright. I know this is an anxious time and not as you had hoped the last trimester and birth to be but please try not to worry too much, I'm sure your little one will be absolutely fine

I feel like I’m being negative and thinking the worst, none of this pregnancy has gone as I thought or ‘to plan’

I google pictures of babies of a similar size and worry myself to death thinking he’s too small to survive being born. My anxiety hopefully will be better now I’ve finished work and can relax and let it all happen! Deep down I know if SCBU is where he needs to be he’ll be well looked after it’s just a scary thought!

I didn't want to say size scans can be wrong... but they predicted my 3rd to weigh 10lb max and he was 11lb 7 haha. So it's not the be all and end all

3lb6 with another three weeks to go? I think he'll be fine, 36 weeks is good.
My girls were born at 34 weeks due to a very complicated pregnancy and they were 3lb5 and 3lb9. These small preemies are tougher than you think. X

DS was induced at 36 weeks because he was small. He arrived weighing exactly what the scan said he would so don't throw out the tiny baby clothes yet! He was fine, tiny but perfect, and didn't need any extra help. Try to relax (I know...), baby and you are in good hands.

As pps have said try not to worry the scans can be wrong. I had dd1 at 32 weeks for a few complications but one was IUGR and she was 3lb 4 but was in SCBU for 3 weeks just to get her feeding. She came home at 4lbs. Dd2 in contrast was predicted to be 9-10lbs and I was really encouraged to have an elective section. She was born VBAC on due date at 6lb 13.

Thank you everyone I’m feeling a bit better about it. Can’t wait until Thursday to find out the score of if/when he’ll be evicted and we can start this journey

My DD was born at 36 weeks weighing 4lbs14oz and was teeny weeny. I'd been having growth scans too and she was hovering around the 0.5th centile. Natural labour and she arrived with minimal issues. Just some jaundice for a few days so under the lamp and she was a terrible feeder but we were home within 3 days. She did then suffer badly with silent reflux and colic which I'm told is very common in early, low weight babies and now I'm weening her she's also not taking to that well but otherwise she's a happy bouncing 6 mo. Still on the small side but my view is that the clothes last longer!

That’s reassuring to hear, to me i wonder how such a small person will cope with labour and being born but I guess there better equipped than we give them credit for! Was she your first? Did you find birth easier or harder with her being small?

Second baby, first was by emcs though so felt like first! I was actually told (no idea i it's true) that smaller babies are harder to birth as they don't have the weight and gravity to pull them down, your body has to work harder to push them out. It kind of figures, friends with whoppers seemed to birth them relatively easily. 24 hr labour with her, but it beat the 48hr one with my DS! He was bang on time and 7.4lbs. There is no rhyme or reason to these things!

Really hope you got on ok xx

My 2nd measured normal kept asking if it was big - no you measure small if anything she was 10lb 6oz...

I do know a few people who had small babies and were delivered early all were fine with great agpar scores

I was induced at 35 weeks due to preeclampsia. Scan the previous day had DS on 50th percentile but he was actually only 3lb 14oz and nowhere near a line. I had steroids for his lungs and he needed a bit of help just after birth but was then in NICU for 2 days and SCBU for a further 2 weeks just until he could feed. Medically, no problems at all just small.