Growth has stopped at 33 weeks....

[plumviolet]

Hello there,

I am high risk due to a previous stillbirth and have been getting regular growth scans since 24 weeks. I just got back from my latest scan and got some bad news that the baby has not grown in the last 2 weeks. I am currently 33+4 but am only measuring 31+5. In all my previous scans the baby has been growing nicely on a steady curve at around the 60 percentile but now has dropped below 50. I had a trace done and the midwives said that it looked ok and the baby was reactive and there was lots of movement, so that was reassuring, but surely having such a dramatic drop is a really bad sign that the baby is not getting what it needs? Does anyone have any experience in this?

This has been a difficult pregnancy for me as I lost my little girl at 32 weeks 3 years ago (she stopped moving, self refered to triage and i found out that she had no heartbeat) and the timing of this seems a bit to close for my liking. If there is something wrong I want to catch it early and get her out. They want me to come in for another growth scan in a week...

The midwife said it could be just different scanning machines, technicians or a rouge measurement. I don't know wether I should freak out or not.

Thanks x

Hurrah!

That's all the good news that you needed isn't it? Blood flow ok, fluid ok, movement ok and more frequent monitoring. With all that on your side yes baby is safer in at the moment and it sounds like you are in hands that know what they're doing (apart from yesterdays reg )

So glad you got checked out today and it's good news! Brilliant that they're going to keep close eye on you too. Needed something to make me smile tonight, so very glad to read your post :)

Oh I'm so glad. The doppler thing is a really good indicator. If you start worrying again tomorrow, you know you can just go down for a CTG any time you want to don't you. I found the reassurance that I could go there every day if I wanted meant that I didn't go down every day iykwim - because my concerns were being heard.

PS If you are on google right now searching for average blood flow resistance in the cord then you are me in 2009 :)

Another one here very pleased to hear your reassuring news.
Hope you are able to relax a little now.

Ah, bi weekly much better. Really glad you came back and updated us too. :)

ooh been following you, so glad all ok - if ever in doubt, go in and be seen - hope all goes well for you

Glad to hear you're on Aspirin. Remember that the measurements are +/- 25% so it's within the accuracy range.

My second was born at 35 weeks with IUGR, natural labour though which had been threatening for 11 weeks (steroids and drip given a long time before she was born). This one is also threatening and showing a notch in both uterine arteries so they're monitoring her weight - if I get far enough on my own to worry. I'm 31 weeks and would happily have her out tomorrow for the certainty of what's going to happen next.

I say this all the time on MN but have you been tested for Antiphospholipid Syndrome? It's one of the biggest causes of IUGR, stillbirth and other pregnancy complications.

Good luck, confuddled x

Don't think I have been tested but think that I will certainly ask for it to be done if we decide to go through this hellish process again.

Im really not sure I can do it again though. I come from a big Irish family and am one of four and always imagined a big bed on a Sunday morning filled with lots of little ones but think I will just have to get this baby here safely and be content with my lot and move on from the breeding stage in my life! It's just been too hard. My poor husband has had to put up with a totally crazy person for the last wee while.

Good luck confuddled, and fingers crossed your little one is ok to cook for a bit longer.

So pleased it is all going well, plum......Glad they are seeing you bi-weekly too. Not long to go now!

glad it all went well, that they saw you and did all the reassuring monitoring they should have. Always push, its always worth it.