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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

WWYD - baby growth tailed off at 37wks?

50 replies

WhiteMagnolia · 21/09/2013 09:29

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...

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Original poster

WhiteMagnolia · 21/09/2013 22:23

Another thing...does anyone know any reasons why this happened to them? A baby to suddenly stop growing? Do placentas just run out of oooomph - can they test it after birth? Or do you just give birth and then if all is well they shrug their shoulders and put it down to 'sometimes this happens' or 'some people carry small babies' and you never really know? Sorry for asking all the questions...guess I have so much whirring round the old grey matter...

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LunaticFringe · 21/09/2013 22:33

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DumSpiroSpero · 21/09/2013 23:22

Having been through an induction and 24 hours of labour which still ended up with an emergency caesarean I have to say that if I were in your shoes I would opt for the planned CS.

I was very open minded about the birthing process but still found the heavy monitoring and restrictions of the induction (not to mention the non stop contractions) very hard to cope with both emotionally and physically.

I felt very out of control and if I were to have another baby I would go for an ELCS in a heartbeat tbh.

Hope all goes well and you have a happy birth and healthy baby whatever you opt for .

northernlurker · 21/09/2013 23:27

OP - the one thing I do know is that this isn't your fault. I expect you're feeling pretty emotional about this - is a pretty big change from the end of pregnancy you thought you'd have. Don't let that emotion push you in to thinking a certain way about this. This is something which just happens and very often there is no explanantion and ALWAYS there is no blame. Just saying that in case you're sitting at home thinking you've done something to cause this.

TallulahBetty · 22/09/2013 09:01

I was never told why DD had IUGR and why my placenta was failing. I believe they sent it for testing but I never knew the outcome - just one of those things I guess. Apparently you're more likely to have it in subsequent pregnancies which is why they scan you more often second time around.

tsw · 22/09/2013 11:25

They should do tests on you too if your placenta failed.

Mine failed at 38 weeks because 30% of it had already died, it was 2/3 the size it should have been (1st centile on placenta growth) & had clots.

It was caused by a condition (Hughes) I had that apparently 10% of the population have. It is my thought that many people have this, don't know & are perhaps VERY lucky to have a successful pregnancy as NHS don't like testing for it (expensive & a few false positives). It's only once you have an "event" plus TWO positive tests that it is taken seriously.

OP I wish you a speedy & happy outcome to this. I'm in my 2nd pregnancy & will have 36 weeks of feeling like this unfortunately.

Original poster

WhiteMagnolia · 23/09/2013 22:53

Just an update for all you helpful people who kindly commented on my post. I went for another scan today so 5 days after the original one and there has been no growth at all - but everything is still fine and I am being monitored daily. The consultant has decided that he will rescan on Thursday and then induce me Thursday night as the baby seems strong now and lively and more likely to have a better birth than leaving it longer and getting distressed. Can't wait to meet the little mite but still a bit apprehensive as I can't get out of my head that something is wrong and that is why growth has stopped. Hopefully once I get into labour I will be able to focus and hopefully enjoy and look forward to it!?

OP posts:

LunaticFringe · 23/09/2013 23:08

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Forgetfulmog · 24/09/2013 06:06

I really would opt for a CS rather than induction, but good luck anyway & keep us informed!

lougle · 24/09/2013 07:34

Good luck! I was induced three times (39+6; 35+3; 38+5) with short labours (4hrs, 8hrs, 3hrs) so not everyone has a bad experience.

TallulahBetty · 24/09/2013 08:02

Good luck OP, my induction was also quick and straightforward.

Passmethecrisps · 24/09/2013 08:17

I thought I would add my tuppence worth in as my situation was a wee bit similar.

I had measured bang on all the way through but at 39 weeks I measured the same as 37. Midwife was unconcerned but sent me for a scan just in case. Scan was on my due date. After the scan the sonographer announced that baby was very small - max possible 6ib possibly as small as 4ib.

I was sent to see a consultant who was very nice and reassuring but I still Dr googled and worried myself about placental failure and causes of placental growth potential etc. I was induced at 40+5 as the decision was taken that baby was better out than in.

Baby was 7ib when born. Which is exactly the same weight as my sister's baby who had been warned her baby would be huge at min 10ib.

I say this because the measurements and scans are not always faultless. Given the same choice though I would do the same again.

Best of luck!

bonzo77 · 24/09/2013 08:28

Main concerns are HB, movement and fluid IME. I've had 2 early due to low fluid and reduced movement. Get the baby out. DS2 in particular was a bit poorly despite an ELCS. All fine though. If your cervix is not favourable seriously think about a CS. The induction is likely to be long and possiblely end in CS anyway. I was told DS2 was too poorly for labour.

Original poster

WhiteMagnolia · 25/09/2013 00:13

Consultant would like to try induction first as the motion of contractions is good for getting babies breathing...and he thinks its in a position where it will just plop out!!! He is only going to give it a small amount of time and if it doesn't work will do a CS as he doesn't want the baby to get distressed...what he's saying makes sense to me....we are not going to let it get out of control and totally medicalised...if it starts slipping down that road I will be given CS....fingers crossed I have got the balance right...

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Original poster

WhiteMagnolia · 04/10/2013 17:22

Just thought I would update you all and thank you for the reassurance. Clementine was born last Saturday a small but determined girl! Although she had stopped growing she arrived at 5lb 8 which was good enough for me! Of course I think she is perfect and although small was 9, then 10 on apgar! It was a very quick and easy labour of 1 1/2 hours and although regarded as high risk I did the whole thing naturally with my doula and a midwife with half the staff of the hosp waiting outside (thankfully I was unaware!) ..I just want to say to others in this position - I spent so much time worrying about this growth stop and about baby's health even though the scan showed no problems just a small baby - please try and believe the professionals and they can tell a lot these days and are not trying to shield you from bad news! Some people I'm told just have small babies..no reason! Anyone in a similar boat feel free to PM me if they want further reassurance! Thank you all again so much for your advice, honestly and v personal accounts!

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LunaticFringe · 04/10/2013 17:30

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Kelly1814 · 04/10/2013 17:38

I had exactly this problem. My baby measured small consistently, i was being scanned weekly as under a consultant due to a cerclage.

At 36 weeks she was only the size of a 32 weeker, she stopped at 4 pounds.

Because of this I had an ELCS at 36 weeks.

When they took her out I had a calcified placenta which is why she hadn't grown much.

In the last two weeks she has chunked on a whole pound, far more than she could have done inside me, so I am very glad they whipped her out early, although it was very stressful at the time.

Best of luck.

Snog · 04/10/2013 17:43

EasyCompadre · 04/10/2013 17:47

Congratulations Magnolia, a beautiful girl, that's lovely! How is she doing now?

northernlurker · 04/10/2013 17:50

So glad to read all is well Congratulation!

jammiecat · 04/10/2013 18:02

Congratulations. Glad all is well, and what a beautiful name.

Original poster

WhiteMagnolia · 04/10/2013 18:37

She is doing really well - very hungry all the time and only a tiny bit under birth weight now! She is currently a joy to look after and very easy but imagine that wont last!!!

OP posts:

fuckwittery · 04/10/2013 23:35

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workingtitle · 05/10/2013 02:45

Many congratulations Magnolia, a beautiful name too. I had my small baby (4lb14) at 36 weeks on the 27th, but with a spontaneous labour. I do hope everything continues to go really well, especially feeding.

Mouserama · 05/10/2013 05:21

Congratulations! I feel that I could have written your post. My DD (now 16 weeks) was small throughout the pregnancy and stopped growing at 37 weeks. I was induced at 39 weeks and ended up with an EMCS, and she was born at 5lb 6oz. Apgar score also 9 then 10. She is perfect, no health problems - she just a small baby! She was a great feeder, took to breastfeeding like a dream and has now moved from the 0.4th centile to the 2nd centile so is outgrowing her growth curve. Like with you, no medical reason for her being small - I just 'make small babies'.

My advice is now to enjoy your little girl. Ignore the comments from people who say she is small, and enjoy the fact that you are going to have a newborn for longer than most people! My DD is only just in her 0-3 clothes at 16 weeks - I love the fact that she is so petite. And I gots weeks and weeks worth of wear out of her newborn clothes

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