34wks, Growth slowed right down - wondering what Drs might do, or what I should be asking

[loueytb3]

I've been having fairly regular scans as I have been measuring small by the useless tape measure method throughout. All the scans up until this point had shown the baby is on the 50th centile. Had a scan on Thursday at just over 34wks to check growth and the stomach measurement had dropped to the 30th centile, all other measurements were still on the 50th centile. The sonographer did a Doppler which showed the blood flow was ok and sent me up to day assessment. They checked all the usual stuff and all is normal but they want to see me twice a week for monitoring. I'm seeing the consultant tomorrow (if he's there). I'm just wondering why this might be happening as there is no obvious cause and what they are likely to do. Is there anything I should be asking? I had pre-e last time round with my twins but it was not unexpected since they were twins. They were eventually born at 35+6 and were both classed as IUGR. Current predicted weights with this LO is 1.6kg but last time it totally overestimated DTs weight so I don't have any faith in the estimates.

IME (4 babies) scans can be spectacularly innacurate.With one child was one leg was longer than the other.It wasn't at all buyt i had weeks and weeks of worry about it. With DS1 i was told after scan he was very big-probably couldn't deliver vaginally.He was 6lb 3oz at term!!

How did it go MrsMon?

Today's update from me, not so good. Had dopplers and growth scan at lunchtime. Baby has barely grown since the last scan (neither head, abdomen or feet). More worringly, the amniotic fluid level has dropped a lot since last Thursday. Consultant wants the baby out and has booked me in for a CS on Thursday. Baby is predicted to be 4lbs 1oz at the moment.

Fairy - you are totally right, the scans can be very inaccurate. With DTs they were predicted to be nearly 5lbs each, and one was 3lbs11 and the other 4lbs1oz, so I'm expecting this one to be less than the 4lbs 1oz that they have predicted. Looks like we won't escape SCBU after all. Really hope they have underestimated it this time.

it went well, all is good! why do midwifes put u under fear for a whole weekend! i was soo worried but it turns out he is fine and yes im having another boy hehe x
thats not very good news hope ur ok? but at least they are doing something about it and booking you in, probs not what you want but it will probs b better for baby.
keep us posted xxx

Oh louey, so sorry to hear that, but really glad they are acting on it, the baby will be in the right place for the situation. Good luck for Thursday. :)

My dopplers weren't so good today, but waiting for another scan next week. Am 36+3 now though, so not too worried any more.

Glad yours went well Mrsmon.

we were predicted for 3lbs, possibly less, and dd came out SCREAMING at 4lb 1oz and never needed to be in SCBU at all. (she was there overnight because i kept nearly dying). she was with me from the second day, absolutely fantastic, just tiny, and is now a feisty toddler.
very glad that they are keeping such a good eye on you and your baby, louey.

MrsMon - that's great news. Hope that's the last of your scares.

Aitch - that is exactly what happened with DTS1, same weight too. Really hoping for the same outcome this time.

Loopy - oh blimey, its never plain sailing is it? Were the dopplers still in the normal range? I know you know this, but please take yourself in if there is any change in movements at all, a week sounds a long time to wait for any more monitoring. My waters have gone down from 11cm to 4cm in less than 5 days, if they left me much longer, there wouldn't have been much left. My dopplers hadn't got any worse in that time.

I had a baby boy this morning - he was 4lbs 8oz. We escaped SCBU to begin with but he's having trouble with low blood sugar levels so they have just taken him in to try and get the levels up. BF'ing has gone out of the window at the moment although he did get some EBM from me. Hopefully he won't need a tube and will be back with me soon.

Congratulations, that's brilliant news. Keeping my fingers crossed that he'll be out of SCBU really quickly. Well done! :)

Oh, and for your question - dopplers - one in normal range, the other on 95th centile :(

brilliant news Louey! he's ENORMOUS!

Aitch - the first thing the surgeon said was he was a good size for an IUGR baby. He's long and thin so he looks heavier than he is too. Hoping that his blood sugars have come up over night and he can come back in with me today.

with dd's blood sugars, snuggling her in close, lots of skin to skin etc stabilised them in a way that surprised the doctors. don't let scbu take over, he's your baby, not theirs. they have a tendency, imo and ime, to get that mixed up.