WWYD - baby growth tailed off at 37wks?

[WhiteMagnolia]

Hi

Bit of a shock but nothing too serious hopefully I know. Went for 37 wk scan which shows baby has stopped growing and currently is quite small - impossible to know when it stopped but was growing normally at 32 wk scan. The guesstimate size is 5lb so nothing drastic although of course I would like it bigger. My main concern is why has this happened and could there be something else amiss? Has anyone else been in this situation and had a perfectly ok time?! I am also worried that keeping the little one in there is not good as my placenta could give up at any time...

I am being rescanned on Monday for growth but can't understand that it will show much if anything in such a short time period and then the doc will make a decision to induce or csec if he is concerned ( I will be 38wks) or babe hasn't grown at all still.

So I guess I am asking how long would you carry a non growing baby for, would you be induced, would you go for csec? Of course people have but can anyone tell me what happened if they were in by his situation and hopefully positive outcomes?! I have built it up in mind to include traumatic births, incubators and a tiny baby to care for...

Thanks in advance...

I have not been in your situation but I have had three dcs. In your situation I would:

Watch the baby's movements very closely this weekend and go straight to hospital if anything worries you.

Go for delivery next week - by c-section unless your cervix is very favourable for induction.

You're 37/38 weeks. Baby's lungs will be fine, the weight is ok. Not huge but ok. Baby is definately safer out than in IF anything does go wrong. Have you had growth issues before? Just wondering why they've scanned you?

Thanks lurker, I was scanned as I am private so probs to get a bit more cash out of me! No previous concerns so was quite shocked that at this point something wasn't right. I keep having to remind myself that I wouldn't know if I was NHS...although my tummy is very small. Not sure in this case that the knowing is very helpful...

I am now fully engaged in a favourable position for a natural birth although my birth preferences are more on the non-medicalised side including no pain relief just hypnobirthing etc - mainly at home till last minute etc etc...however I was always realistic that this could change so not too disappointed on that front. I am in everyday for monitoring until a decision is made...I just don't know! My doula, midwife and consultant all take very different views and appreciating they are all trained differently it is difficult to know who's advice to take. I have to remember that drs are only there for problematic births on the whole - which I still don't think I necessarily have to have? The only thing I need to know now is what is best for baby - is it not at all worth keeping it in there not growing even if it is staying safe?

The growth of both my babies (2 pregnancies, not twins) dropped after 20 weeks, in both case falling from the 50th percentile at 20 weeks to well below the 10th by 32. I had fortnightly growth scans and weekly placental function/fluid scans. Both were delivered at 38 weeks after scans showed fluid levels had dropped. Other than being tiny they were both fine! My placenta was prematurely aged in both cases - I'm just not great at growing babies!

It is great it has been picked up as you will now be closely monitored. Keep an eye on movements and go in if you're unhappy at anytime. I also wanted a natural birth but ended up with EMCS for DD1, it was a million times better than I had imagined it would be and she started bfing in recovery - so don't panic too much with delivery.

Best for luck and just focus on the fact that soon you will get to meet your baby!

I'm so sorry you are experiencing this.

However, having lost my baby at 38 weeks, I now wish so hard I had had a warning scan beforehand.

I would take an early delivery even if it just helps your own anxiety - could you cope with 2 weeks of hoping & worrying if the scan on Monday says things look okay?

The baby wouldn't really be growing much more now anyway, the growth tails off towards the end of pregnancy.

Ok probably not very helpful, but this is my story...

Dd stopped growing around 32/33 weeks. I was induced at 36 weeks, but both inductions failed & I ended up with EMCS as dd went into distress. She was fine immediately post birth (Apgar scores perfect), but her body temp & blood sugar dropped & she couldn't maintain them (I swear this was because I wasn't offered skin-to-skin). 2 hours after she was born she was sent to IC & we were able to take her home after 10 days (I spent the last 4 days rooming in to establish bf with her)

She was 4lb3 born so tiny, but she's now 1 & honestly you couldn't tell she'd been in IC when born.

My advice - do not be induced, tiny babies have difficulty coping with the pressure of induction - & opt for a CS.

Buy tiny baby clothes as normal newborn will swamp your LO.

Good luck!

Agree withbuskersdog I read recently that there is very little growth in the last two weeks. But I'm all for checking!!

I think the issue is that 'not growing' may conflict with 'staying safe'. From what you say I am assuming that the growth curve from the 32 weeks scan would indicate a higher weight now - therefore something in the last 3 weeks has started to restrict the baby's growth. If the placenta is not doing what it should then potentially that puts the baby at risk. It's great that you're being monitored closely. That's as it should be. I know this situation is not what you expected but regardless of this you can still have a wonderful delivery with a healthy baby in your arms. I think the private /NHS thing not knowing is actually a bit of a red herring. In the first place a NHS midwife may well have picked up the difference in growth when you were seen, as you say you're measuring small. Secondly there is an argument to be made for introducing third trimester scans in all pregnancies given that the rate of third trimester loss is unacceptably high in the UK. So I wouldn't get too hung up on that.

I can't comment on a non-growing baby but I did have a full-term low birth weight baby. My DS was 5lb 4oz so likely to be around the size of your baby. To reassure you he was perfectly healthy at that weight. The only issue was that as he was small, for the first couple of weeks I had to feed him every 3 hours, as due to his small stomach he couldn't take in much at a time, and often fell asleep whilst feeding (as being small he had less energy) so took a while to feed him. It was exhausting in those first couple of weeks but then it always is with a baby! Other than that we had to send my sister out to buy some tiny baby clothes which he was in until he was almost 8 weeks. He is now a very healthy 3 year old, has not suffered any more illnesses than any other baby, and other than being a little shorter than average you wouldn't necessarily know that he started out so small.

Good luck, and I hope you get to meet your baby soon.

Just to add my DS was born at 38+5 so not dissimilar to you and anything over 37 weeks is classed full term so as others have said lungs etc will all be developed. So definitely not a problem to deliver/have CS now.

My baby wasn't growing well due to low amniotic fluid. I was monitored every other day for 2 weeks and them had an induction at 38 weeks and the obstetrician though she would be better off out than in.. Induction went really well, baby was out 12 hours after process started.

In fact she was 3.2kg so maybe there was nothing to worry about! Was in France and I think they tend to be particularly risk averse in relation to childbirth.

Pregnancy and birth is risky and personally I wouldn't be taking any chances. Go for the 2nd scan if the baby is def very small for dates ask to be delivered and yes keep an eye on movements - any changes to the usual pattern are not normal and need immediate investigation.

In the last few weeks of pregnancy it is usual for babies to gain half a pound in weight per week...

Agree about checking for movement and ring hospital if you have concerns on this - also make sure to check your own BP daily

I had exactly this. The slowing in growth was identified a bit earlier, but essentially was advised to induce early at 37 weeks. I was a bit concerned as predicted weight was under the 2.5kg limit for nicu admission but actually she arrived at 2.6kg, so was able to stay with me. I fed every 2 hrs to start with but she is now a very bouncy 5 month old! I went for straight induction as was already dilated (3rd child tho!), delivery was the easiest out of my 3 although obviously had to stay on bed as baby continuously monitored. I decided I would worry too much about movements or lack of in last couple of weeks so better out than in. Hope that helps and good luck!

I would be induced.

My DD was born at 39+2 after induction. A scan after lack of movement showed that she was v small and had stopped growing (IUGR) but this hadn't been picked up. I also had v low fluid around her. I was induced there and then and she was 5lb 1oz. My placenta was failing and if we'd left it even til my due date, she might not have made it. Next time I'll be scanned every few weeks and induced earlier if needed.

Meant to add that she was fine but needed an incubator for 48 hours and regular blood sugar tests. Also needed feeding every 3 hours for a while. At 22 months she's still small for her age but otherwise fine. Personally I wouldn't take a chance with this - keep an eye on movement and go in immediately if you notice a change of movement (decrease OR increase).

Nothing much to add op but i've had 2 babies at 37 weeks & 2 babies at 38 weeks. All were fine. My 3rd baby wasn't growing propley & although she was 5lb at 38 wks she was absolutely fine.

Best of luck.

I would be induced. I know far too many people who have lost their babies in the last few weeks of pg.

I went for a 36 week scan due to low lying placenta at 20 week scan. it was then they discovered that LO was not growing and I had low fluid. i was rescanned every week after - placenta was scanned too on each occasion. I was induced at 39 weeks 5 days. LO was born weighinh 6lbs 6oz - so nothing drastic.

He's now on the 75th for weight and 91st for height!!! (21 months old)

Thank you all for your opinions - just got back from another monitoring session - yet again they are saying a happy baby judging by heart rate but I still can't quite get out of my head that there is something very wrong with it to stop it growing...I know its probably irrational but pregnancy hormones etc...

From here I think the consensus is that generally better out than in not only for baby's sake but also my own mental strength which although secondary is worth considering. The midwife has now said that as I will be monitored daily I will be regarded as high risk and therefore will not be allowed a water birth and must be constantly monitored - something I was desperate to avoid as for me labour isn't being tied to machines with the risk of it getting even more medicalised. I am now deciding whether it would be better to induce or skip straight to csec...both have their pros and cons so guess its just personal choice...

So glad to hear that the bulk of you had no further repercussions after birthing mini ones but appreciate the honest opinions of those who weren't so lucky. I agree - late scans should be available to all...

I had a scan at 35 weeks which showed that baby had stopped growing at 33 weeks (estimated weight was static between the two scans).

I was told 'watch and wait' with follow up scans. I told the registrar that I wasn't happy with that because she didn't know why she'd stopped growing. She said 'it's not the worst situation, we see far worse.' I said 'can you guarantee me that she's alright and she won't have died next time you scan?' She, of course, had to say no.

We couldn't agree so she called her Consultant through to speak to me. The consultant said that either was reasonable. So I said 'induce me. Today. Now.'

We compromised on waiting until the next morning. She was born at 35+3 and was fine other than quite severe jaundice.

Lougle - that's somewhat how I feel...on the other hand I am keen to see if it grows even a couple of oz more so I feel I have given the best chance - just getting that balance I guess - they keep saying it sounds happy but I wonder what they really know! Gah! Like going round in circles...but mentally it is tough thinking that at anytime the placenta could die a death...although I think that is very rare?

I went into hospital at 38 weeks as I'd been having pains on and off for 3 days and wanted to get checked out. A consultant there was very worried about my size as I was measuring 32 weeks. I was induced straight away on a drip and dd1 was born less than 4 hours later weighing 2.6 kg - so small but not tiny tiny. All was well - she just needed feeding every 3 hours. They said she had IUGR, but I'm not sure, as DD2 was born a year later weighing 2.9kg - so I think I just make small babies.