Advice please on potential risks in delivery of a slightly smaller baby

[canyoukeepasecret]

All the scans (including one at 36 weeks) are showing that my baby is between 25-50 percentiles so not really all that small. But three different midwives have felt me and measured me and are concerned that baby is small. I want to deliver at a midwife run birthing centre which only takes very low risk mothers and I wondered whether anyone knows of any risks that could be present with a slightly small baby.

I'm not aware of any risks with a baby that's just slightly small. It's not that small is it? They can't all be average! But I'm no expert - hope someone else comes along for you.

Hi,

My DD3 was 5lb11oz at birth (which is between the 2nd & 9th percentiles I think). There were no problems with her birth at all, and she had apgars of 9 & 10 I think. She was delivered in a MW led unit.

BUT she was not diagnosed as small prior to delivery. If they think s/he will be small that might give them some cause for concern as I guess they don't know what has caused it IYSWIM. I would suggest to them that they go by the scans which I would have thought are more accurate.

Also are they sure it's not her position that's giving a false impression? DS got himself in a strange position in the last few weeks - what made them realise it was when he shrunk between appointments!

Scans and palpating aren't accurate. I've heard of people being told baby would be small and it came out big from scans. I was told the day before I had ds1 that he was about 6 pounds by a consultant, he was 7 pounds 12 and a half hehe. Dd was born at 36 weeks and was 5 pounds 14 and a half but she did have problems due to being early not because of her weight.

I think the main prob is that smaller babes have more probs maintaining their temperature, but that can be easily solved (hats, clothes, turning up the heating!).

All my 3 were sfd (small for dates) - dd1 5lb 11oz, dd2 5lb 8oz and ds 6lb 8oz. All were post term. All had apgars of 9 then 10. All were actually just 'constitutionally small', despite dp being 6ft 4! I measured about 3-4 weeks behind according to fundal height with all of them.

All were fab births, last 2 at home, no probs in labour or afterwards. We had scans with dd1 and dd2, but saw no point for growth scans with ds.

It will prob be something and nothing, you might just get more use out of all your newborn stuff lol!

I think that you should be positive and consider yourself lucky, having given birth to a 6lb 10 and an 8lb 10 baby I know which one I would rather do again! Both were fine though and I still want a third, just hope it isn't another 2 lb heavier! First one always measured small but scan said about 25th centile, she was born in a mw led unit.