Reduced growth?

[physicskate]

Posted similar in pregnancy.

I'm 37 weeks today and had a growth scan two weeks after my last scan (previous scan was because my midwife misplotted my fundal height as 31 instead of 34...). Most recent fundal height was still 34 (which I know doesn't mean a lot!!). I've moved from about 80/90th centile down to more like 40/50th. The scan suggests she's grown about 250 grams in the last two weeks.

I now have to see a consultant on Monday. I'm just wondering if anyone else has had something similar and what they suggested? I'm thinking it's a wait and watch approach, instead of a 'get this baby out now' approach. But just wanting to see what's happened to others...

And in the world of irony, my first stretch mark appeared today!!!

I didn't have to see a consultant about it but my dd was measuring slightly behind her usual growth at 38 weeks. Predicted to be born at 6 pounds. She was born a week later weighing 8 pounds! I found out after that later scans are notoriously inaccurate so I wouldn't worry too much. I'm having extra scans this pregnancy due to taking thyroxine. So far taking a lot less notice to the growth scans. As long as baby is kicking around nicely, that's all I'm bothered about. Anyway try not to worry too much. I know it's much easier said than done though!

I had a similar situation and my son's growth appeared to slow down when measuring fundal height. I think he was thought to be about 6lb at 38 weeks in a scan but came out less than that at 40wks, so there was reason for concern, although he was very healthy even as a small baby. I got induced at 40wks, but this was based on a decision of too many episodes of reduced movement, not size.

I have had more scans in later pregnancy during this one and the size is ok, but I found that about 35wks was the point the baby stopped really growing last time and I'm feeling like it could be going that way again. Time will tell next week when I have a scan.

I expect if reduced growth continues and you don't go in to labour naturally you may get induced at 40wks as the risks start to increase after that time, but don't quote me on it as I'm not a ob! They would be more interested in why the growth has stopped rather than the size of the baby, as 50th is bang in the middle. It might be that you will just be scanned again soon to see what has happened. I never got to the bottom of why growth slowed down with my first child, but he is still very much a little fella and was probably never meant to be a big strapping lad!

Update: saw the consultant today and I'm now 'consultant lead' so no midwife led unit... he said they'll rescan two weeks from the last scan and induce if she has further reduced growth. But if she stays on the same centile, they'll obviously leave her longer.

And he stressed about going in for reduced movements, but I've always found it really hard to tell as her 'pattern' is to not have a pattern...