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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

below the 10th centile 34 weeks

18 replies

Valiant1 · 18/08/2011 13:42

been to the consultant today who says baby is small. She is estimated as being 4lb 8oz but is below the 10th centile on the chart. they have told me to come back next week for a Doppler and then in two weeks for a growth scan. What can i eat to help her grow??

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Cattleprod · 18/08/2011 13:48

10% of babies are below the 10th centile, so try not to worry too much.

As for food, just healthy stuff I guess (although my midwife did say DS might have been so big because I ate lots of sweets).

WeLoveHaribo · 18/08/2011 13:56

Id not be too concerned, i measured small all way through pregnancy, then had a growth scan at 38wk to b told baby was about 5lb. 2wk later on due date i had an healthy 7.11 DS.

Original poster

Valiant1 · 18/08/2011 13:56

rushes to the olde sweet shop in the village to buy a pick and mix :)
I suppose my biggest worry is her not being healthy my friend lost her baby two weeks ago she had stopped growing when she went for the Doppler she had died she was 28 weeks. the Doppler today was spot on so will keep an eye on movement and have been eating healthy i have eaten more salad since being pg than in my life am loving peppers and tomatoes at the moment. i know what you mean though DH was like KFC for tea the next few weeks then !!!!!!!!!!!
would carbs help i can't eat bread but potatoes and pasta are good? do i increase what i am eating bigger portions? sorry I am really panicking.

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Original poster

Valiant1 · 18/08/2011 14:00

My dd was born at 37+3 and was 7lb 1 but my boys where both whoopers 7lb 13 @ 41+ and 8lb 3 39+5.

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WeLoveHaribo · 18/08/2011 14:02

Sorry was told to expect baby to be around 5lb full term, not when scanned.

Cattleprod · 18/08/2011 14:07

I think generally the baby just takes what they need, so as long as you are eating a reaonable amount of food you should be fine. Complex carbs are good, though, so pasta, potatoes, sweet potatoes, cous cous etc.

You are bound to feel anxious after your friend's sad loss. It might be worth asking your midwife about additional support which is available on the nhs. It can really help to talk things through with someone.

lolajane2009 · 18/08/2011 14:52

My baby is also measuring small for dates but then again I am only 5ft 2. He weighed approx. 2067g at 33 and 6 and 1632g at 32wks. Apparentally it is only really worrying if he isn't growing or is falling off the bottom of the chart. Some children will be made large and some small.

brettgirl2 · 18/08/2011 15:55

I measured 50th centile throughout. On the 'customised' growth chart (I am 5'10 so should apparently have a bigger baby on average) when DD was born (perfectly healthy and well) she was below the 10th centile line (and was 6lb 15oz so not exactly dangerously tiny). Probably they are just going to make sure that the baby keeps growing along that line. As someone else says 10% of babies are born below the 10th centile and remember that it is based on full term babies.

I have always been grateful they never noticed this while I was pregnant and worried me half to death over it. She's still petite now at 2.4 so there was no problem with growth while I was pregnant IFYSWIM.

duchesse · 18/08/2011 16:14

I was told at 40 weeks with DD2 that she was between 5 and 6 lbs, based on consultant's opinion and ultrasounds every two weeks. She was born at 40+13 weighing 7lbs 9oz. A friend's baby was born at 40+4 the other weighing 7lbs 5oz, when she'd been told 3 weeks earlier, also based on multiple ultrasounds, that her baby was no longer growing and weighed barely 5lbs. That just about sums up the amount of faith I have in any estimates of pre-birth weight.

Having said that, I think the Doppler cord blood flow scan is valid and useful in these cases.

Original poster

Valiant1 · 18/08/2011 19:47

Am hoping the Doppler is the most accurate too i have calmed and thought about it and 37 weeks is ok and is she keeps on the rate she is going she will be 6lb 2oz which also isn't bad so am calm and have started to get stuff together and get ready. have looked at the carbs and have done a shop on line so have managed to get some good carbs in there. thanks ladies xx i will keep you updated.

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hayleysd · 18/08/2011 19:53

My ds2 was below the 5th centime from about 28 weeks, the last growth scan they estimated about 5 1/2pm at 38 weeks he was born 4lb 14oz, he was fine though just cold so had to be put in an incubator but this was partly shock from a 20 min labour!

He's on about the 9th centile now at 20 months but his weight has always steadily increased even with reflux and food allergies

As long as your placenta is working ok try not to worry

Original poster

Valiant1 · 18/08/2011 21:24

thanks Hayleysd x did they mention excersise too you ? its just they asked me if i was active Dh seems to think that the fact i have been taking it easy has slowed the flow to the baby and made her smaller ????? i can sort of seee what he is saying but the Doppler was ok today so just wondered if any one else was asked xx

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hayleysd · 18/08/2011 21:29

Never mentioned exercise to me and I had SPD so didn't do too much, ds2 was actually on the 0.4th percentile but the cut off where they induced was 5th, I had low fluid and reduced movement too ( although he had positional talipes so I think he was just laid funny) so was induced at 38 weeks

Original poster

Valiant1 · 18/08/2011 21:45

My baby been breech as long as she has been in there and has kick me to ribbons lost my plug 2 weeks ago and have been having really bad BH when i walk so i not been doing any either x was just a thought xx

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9reenflower · 18/08/2011 22:41

was told (following a scan at 31 weeks) that baby is rather small. DC was born 8lb9oz... have been told though that I should try to rest a bit more.... until that point I had been on the go non stop (working + having DC1 with SN). after the scan I made sure I get more rest. just really forced myself to rest everyday at noon for 1-2 hours and went to bed a earlier... and I also made sure that I had good meals. not sure if this made the difference or if the sonographer simply got the measurements wrong...

jetgirl · 18/08/2011 22:52

Don't panic. My mw measured me as small for dates, but the mw at the hospital measured me differently and wouldn't scan me at about 35 weeks as she said bump looked fine. DD was born, 11 days late, weighing 5lb 8oz - 2nd centile. Perfect but little! I would have worried had I been scanned which probably wouldn't have been healthy for me. DD is still petite and she's 6 in a week. She's been on 9th centile for most of the last 6 years.

DS strangely weighed in at 8lbs 1oz and I did nothing differently during pregnancy. All the best for the rest of your pregnancy.

1sttimemomma · 22/08/2011 17:31

Was really good to read people's experiences - just come back from hospital myself (4 hours!) and as they've said I'm JUST below the 10th centile at 36+2 weeks they've given me steroid injections "just in case the baby needs to be delivered early". You can't help but worry though! Back up to the hospital again tomorrow - hopefully baby will be sporting some "Schwarznegger muscles" and grown!

sevensevenseven · 22/08/2011 17:44

DS was born at 35 weeks weighing 4lb 9oz, I'd been told previously he was a big baby. He was perfectly healthy and only stayed in hospital for 3 days, 2 of those because I was struggling to bf. He's now 3 and still only on the 9th centile, he's obviously just meant to be small-built.

Good luck and I hope everything goes ok.

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