Baby stopped growing/ slowed right down

[johull]

Has anyone else been told they're carrying a worrying small baby? I'm 31+1 and have been told she is very small. She is measuring the same as a 27 week baby. The midwife said if I wasn't already booked in for a scan at 32 weeks then she would book me in for one to check everything's ok. Is this common? I already have a low-lying placenta, could this have anything to do with it? Many thanks in advance.

[coffeetofunction]

Thinking of you & your DC x

[loopylou52]

Just wanted to wish you lots of luck. I'm sure your dc is a little fighter

[johull]

Had my pre- op today could t have been more nervous but actually it was so easy I feel silly for ever worrying. For those of you unsure what this entails it's just a meeting with each person who will be in the room with me when baby is being delivered. They answer any questions and make you feel so relaxed about the whole thing bi have to be there at 6;45 Wednesday morning. I'm starting to get nervous about that now as I'm not really sure what to expect. If anyone has any experience of c-sections and is willing to share experiences that would be great. I warm you though- if they are bad experiences then please do not elaborate as others will read this thread too and I would hate to cause anxiety in others; it's a nervous enough time :-) thanks x

[HauntedNoddyCar]

Very calm and a bit surreal!

You'll be given some anti indigestion medicine and gown to wear. Then walk to theatre. The anaethesist will sit you holding a pillow for the spinal block and check it is working. They put screens up and get on with it. You can feel pulling but it's a bit uncomfy but not painful at all. They may need to take baby off to special care so you will get a short cuddle.

I did feel a bit sick during the process but I had an icy stick thing they gave me which helped.

I was taken off to recovery and dh went with the baby.

I was up that night and walking the next day. I was on paracetamol only by day 3 or 4.

Good luck.

[johull]

Haunted- did you have people talking to you at the same time or was it quiet? How many people are actually operating? Are they talking to each other or you? Sorry about all the questions x

[ChicaMomma]

My baby has been measuring about a week behind gestational date all along.. small bit worrying alright. i have my 36 week growth scan next week so let's see what that brings.. i'm 38 so am worried about the placenta not doing it's job- but i'm sure the medics will have it covered etc..

my husband was born just under 7 lbs at full term- i was told the baby would take more after the father than the mother.. i myself was a 9 lb baby! as were all my nieces and nephews, so to me, 6/7 lbs sounds like a WEENY baby, but in reality i'm sure it's normal!

[johull]

I've heard they take after the father too. I am a few stages ahead now and am having a c-section next Wednesday at 34 weeks. She will be born at 3.5lbs so will spend a lot of time in Baby care Unit.

[HauntedNoddyCar]

It was calm talking. The anaethesist was up by my head with dh. The consultant and registrar were talking to each other quietly so nobody was shouting or being demanding of me. It's a not like ER :)

[HauntedNoddyCar]

Oh there were about 7 people iirc. Consultant registrar and anaethesist, one or two midwives and a theatre assistant or two. You may not have the consultant as they don't usually do routine sections.

[bonzo77]

I had 2 surgeons, 2 anaesthetists, two theatre nurses, one midwife, one paediatrician. There may have been more but that's what I remember. I don't really remember any chat, it was all quite calm. The biggest noise was DS2 shouting. He calmed down once they'd wrapped him up nice and snuggly.

[johull]

Bonzo do you remember how long your section take?? Did you have a spinal or an epidural?

[bonzo77]

My first section was an emergency. I already had the epidural in as I'd been induced. They topped it up. It took less than 5 minutes to get ds1 out then maybe 40 minutes to close me up. Second time round I had a spinal as it was semi- elective. Took about 30 minutes, maybe more to get DS2 out, but that was to do with scarring / adhesions from the first section, which is normal I think. Again about 40 minutes to close I think. Before you ask, I have no idea about the difference between spinal and epidural. I think the spinal lasted longer, it took ages to wear off. The sensation for both is odd, but not unpleasant. The strangest thing is that your legs feel so heavy, you can't move them. Then the feeling comes back and you get a fuzzy pins and needles sensation. Where the scar is you get some nerve damage to the skin, so that feels numb for ages, months even. Mine has never fully recovered sensation, but it really doesn't bother me. In terms of overhang, I have a tiny sort of shelf, but nothing that cannot be hidden, even in a bikini. I think not gaining excessive weight helped, and was a silver lining to getting baby out early. I was actually back to my pre pg weight within a couple of weeks with DS2, born at 35+5. Tummy probably took another week or 2 to fully deflate.

[Potol]

I had an epidural. It took 41 minutes. They were trying to break the hospital record of 40 mins and that's why I know the time. Can't remember how many people but two surgeons and one anaesthetist. Till the baby was out there was silence (they did warn me before rummaging around) but once the excitement had died down post birth, the surgeons were chatting with me while I was being stitched up.

[PandaPicnic]

hey johull hope you and baby are both well

[usmama]

Yes- have been thinking about this thread. Hope all is ok johull x

[johull]

Hello all. I had the section and all went well. Unfortunately that's where it ended. My baby came out with a collapsed lung, she was out on a ventilator and rushed to another larger hospital where they had a specialist unit for ventilated babies. She was on a ventilator for 3 days, a vapotherm for another 2 days and eventually her lung started working again. She was born on the 21st, I got to touch her on the 24th, hold her on the 28th and now (after several miracles) she is now home. This has been the best and worst experience of my life. There were two particularly hairy moments where I thought if lost her but now... All is well and j have a tiny 4lb baby that I love more than life. X

[Misfitless]

Congratulations johull!

[Amybabygypsyqueen]

My dd1 was a 'small baby' she weighed 9.9lb

Dd2 was a 'big baby' she was 9.4lb what will be will be x

[Rachie1986]

Sorry it's been such a tough couple of weeks. Big congratulations!!

[bronya]

Congratulations! Glad she's doing well now.

[LittlePeaPod]

I measured small all the way through and DD was 8lb when she was born. External exactions are totally inaccurate.

[LittlePeaPod]

Examinations... Sorry

[LittlePeaPod]

Congratulations Op and appologise just read your update.

[GlaikitFizzog]

Aw, congratulations, enjoy your snuggles!