Small bump - and now referred for growth scan? Anyone else had this??

[TwickyWoo]

I'm 28 weeks and had my Midwife appointment today. Once she had vamped my bloods and checked my wee... she measured my bump - the first measurement I've had.

I've had a small bump so far and as my first pregnancy thought that not showing until late, and not having been through it before, that the small bump was normal. I'm not particularly tall or of big build, so it looks quite in proportion to me (and if anything big to me!! hehe) The midwife measured me as 2cm smaller than what they would expect on the 3rd Centile (i.e smallest measurement) so has referred me for a growth scan at the hospital this Friday.

I'm not overly worried as baby is super active (kicking and wriggling most of the day), heart beat is strong and regular and I feel great - but just wondered whether anyone else had had this, and what I should expect (if anything) from the scan on Friday?

This happened to me. I think my scan was similar to the 20 week one but mainly focused on measurements. They will check the size of baby and check head and body are growing at the same rate.

Hopefully it will be nothing to worry about and they are just being vigilant.

hi twickywoo i cant give advice as such but the scan will show if baby is growing fine etc i have measured behind in my last app and midwife said it was the way baby was laying and they wud re check at next app which is tomorrow to see if we have gotten any better/worse i have a very small bump for 34+4 and im on dc3 im not tall either so tomorrow il know whats going on their all i can say is try not to worry i hope some one here can help more :)

Yep I had a small bump and scans for size...they predicted 6lb baby...they were 9lb + and no 4 was 10lb 13oz, I just hide them well!

I had this... and the baby was slightly above average weight at birth. Do. Not. Worry. Promise me, okay? No worrying.

Thanks guys - your responses are kind of what I was expecting. I've read quite a bit since I've been pregnant and know that the whole fundal height measurement is deemed to be quite subjective. I'm quite a pragmatic person so won't be worrying about it until I'm told I have something to be worried about - I just find the whole process quite fascinating!

Princesscupcakemmummb - good luck with your appt tomorrow. I'm sure you too will be fine - just like us, these babies must grow at their own rates and the centile are 'averages' after all!

5madthings - blimey - that sounds a bit ouchy! :)

theneedsajobname - not worrying here I promise!... I appreciate your comments so thanks for taking the time to let me know!

I measured 2 cm small at my 36 week check up with DS and was told that he was engaged and there was no need for a scan. When he was born he was underweight and they made us stay in for 3 days and I was told to top up feeds with formula which completely messed up my own supply. So I think you're lucky to have been referred for a scan. There's no harm in checking to see if everything is ok.

fakebook - sorry to hear that you didn't have the smoothest of times when the LO was born. I'm quite pleased in a way that I get another scan, and agree that if something is amiss it is better if they find it. :)

I had this with both my pregnancies and it stressed me out no end, especially when random people would comment on how small my bump was

I had 2 healthy sons, 7.11 and 7.9 . please try not to worry. we all carry differently and your MW is just being vigilant, and you''ll get to see your baby again. and remember, a scan is like trying to guess the weight of someone in a swimming pool in the next room

I've just been referred today (36+2) as bump is measuring 33, the same as at my 34 week appointment. I'm really not unduly worried, the scan will pick up anything of concern, but imo both fundal height and ultrasound can be imperfect measures and there are lots of innocuous reasons bumps might be coming up small. I hope you're not worried, and that the scan is reassuring

As FoxPass. I got an extra scan at 32 weeks with both my boys because I measured small. DS1 7lb 8oz and DS2 7lb 12oz - neatly packaged.

Yes exactly the same happened to me last week. I was petrified. I was 27 + 2 and midwife said I was measuring 3cm behind & the max that was okay was 2cm. She rang up and booked me in for a growth scan 3 days later.

Everything was fine, his measurement & weight was spot on e.g average. I can't tell you not to worry as I'm sure you will, but I called the Cow & Gate helpline and the midwife said the tape measure is a v crude measurement & women are all different. Good luck.

Well I've had the scan today and the sonographer seemed really happy. My amniotic fluid is on the low side (as in below average but not a worry) but all other measurements are normal. I then had to speak to the midwife/nurse in the day unit to be told something different.

They think it is all 'normal' but as there are 3 things that are a slight worry (fundal, amnio and really small decrease in abdomen measurement) they want me back in 2 weeks for another scan... and then a consultant appt.

Not sure what to think to be honest as the baby seems fine, looks great on the scans and I'm feeling super too. I know that they are checking to make sure but if they're going to be over cautious I'm going to end up under consultant led care instead of midwife, which means my chances of my natural home birth are disappearing fast sigh I'm just going to remain positive and hope that the next scan sets everything straight.

I also measured small at 28 week midwife appointment, and went for a growth scan the same day. They took loads of readings of the placenta and the umbilical cord, which was a little daunting, but everything was totally fine. She was measuring a little small, but within the normal range they would expect, so no concern. Midwife thought small measurement may be due to transverse lie, but scan showed she was breech. Shes since flipped round and is head down, but bump has continued to measure small throughout. I am looking forward to finding out what she will weigh when she gets here (hopefully!) in the next week. She is also a fidget, and has been throughout, which helps put my mind at rest. I was only 5lb14oz when I was born, and I'm not especially big now - hopefully she is following suit. I have decided to take comfort in the fact that I am unlikely to be trying to pop out a 10lber!

Glad to hear that everything is on track for you ElleCloughie. I thought my bump may be small due to the way the baby was lying, but he was in a perfect position, head down, spine forwards etc so it can only be the lower level of amniotic fluid that is causing the smaller measurement as everything else looks ok? My little boy is also a complete fidget and I too take comfort in his regular disco dancing! I was a small baby at 6oz and am not very big now so I like you, think that perhaps some of us just aren't destined for big babies. Best of luck with your delivery - if she is small she should just 'pop' out

Had similar with both pregnancies. Ended up with fortnightly, then weekly scans, then every other day. DS1 induced at 38+5 as movements reduced and fluid very low. Was 5lb11 (2nd percentile for a term baby),diagnosis of IUGR, otherwise fine and normal. No pathology requested on placenta. DS2 semi-elective CS at 35+5. 5lb3 (50th percentile for dates), 8 days in NiCU and SCBU for various reasons connected to prematurity, the CS and suspected placental insufficiency. Now doing fine. No abnormality detected in placental on path report. So.... No one knows why it happened, but with careful monitoring and well timed early deliveries, both my boys are fine.

Was put under consultant care from day one as DS was 5.3lb when born (and fine) so with DS2 they scanned every 3 weeks from 12 weeks to check growth continued. Am now 36w and look 6m pregnant but baby is almost 5lb so not worried. Am a bit stressed that I will be kept in for more than one night though as would much rather be at home (wil really stress about MIL having DS1 by herself as means well but is useless) and would like to be on own sofa etc but they have policy at my hospital of under 6lb they keep you in. Am sure you will be fine. Some of us just don't make big babies!

Hey I am a sonographer and he majority of babies that are referred measuring small for dates measure normal on the scan. It's v hard to work out size of baby from measuring a bump. Worry not :-)

I measured every small thoughout - 32cm at 40 weeks last time. Had 3 or 4 growth scans. The last 24 hours before he was born naturally. I was told he would weigh a maximum of 5lb. He was born the following day on his due date at 6lb8 which is 9th percentile for term.
Some people just carry small and make small babies.
I'm currently nearly 27 weeks with number two and although I haven't been measured I know it's going to happen again as everyone I meet and see says how 'small' I am. We'll see at 28!week apt. Haven't had midwife since 16 weeks.
I think I have a bump but with a long body, just think I carry them inside me rather than out!