Question for anyone on the new growth programme

[Notimefortossers]

So at my 12 week scan I'm told I need to be put on the growth programme because DC1 was only 6lb 1oz . . . despite the fact that I've had two perfectly healthy weight babies since then . . . so it all seems a bit silly to me and with 3 to run around after I could do without extra unnecessary appointments! I was told I'd have an appointment with a consultant at 16 weeks, need to take aspirin throughout (which I'm not doing) and have 2 extra growth scans.
My 16 week app with consultant is today . . . anyone know if they will scan me? I'm DESPERATE to find out the sex ;) x

Sounds a bit potty to me - I'd like the extra scans though :)

Even at 6lbs I'm surprised that is a cause for concern. Hopefully, someone else will be alone who is also on the program.

I know! What a waste of NHS time and money! I'm the same about the scans though :)
My last baby was 8lb 9oz for goodness sake!

Fingers crossed you get scanned and learn the sex :) Then I would mention your other birth weights at the appointment and if baby is in line with norms when next scanned, I would probably make the decision not to have any further intervention.

What's he growth programme? Just wondering as DD was 5lbs 13oz but nothing was said at the time along the lines of 'you'll have to go on the growth programme next time'.

Would just make the prospect of going out in this rain much more exciting wouldn't it? Lol

I think it's a new thing Apples as I didn't have it with DC2 or DC3! Which I questioned when the midwife who scanned me (used to be sonographers that scanned too!) told me about it after my scan. She said it was because they didn't have the programme in place then. My DC3 was only 8 months old then so must be very new!

When she said about taking the aspirin throughout because it increases the blood flow to the placenta I said 'But DC3 was 8lb 9! I'll end up with a 10lber' . . . And she said 'But we'll know because of the scans . . . Oh great I'm glad you'll know! ;) When I googled it and discovered it crosses the placenta I was like no way hosay! If you think I'm pumping my unborn child full of aspirin for no good bloody reason you've got another thing coming!

Good on you for refusing the aspirin. I'm completely surprised at the level of intervention for no good reason?! I'd refuse all of it if it was me.

I'm 28 weeks and all mine was quite small,5lbs two of mine were.
They have never mentioned monitoring growth.
Funny how different places do things differently.

Our local hospital has just had a spangly new midwife led maternity unit so maybe that's why

Hmm, all sounds very strange No time, no wonder you're bemused. I've never heard that there are any increased risks for smaller babies who are still classed as term... Has anyone else??

I have been put on a similar regime of appointments and scans because one of my ID premature twins was under 2.2kg. He was littler than his brother because they had a placental complication that can affect ID twins, twin-to-twin-transfusion-syndrome. I am definitely only having one this time so the risk of TTTS is zero. I tried explaining this to the midwife who just said that everyone who has ever had a baby under the weight threshold is expected to be consultant led and have extra growth scans. I'm going to go to the first appointment and hope that the consultant takes one look at my notes and refers me straight back to community midwife led care.

Well that's pretty much what happened to me today Tftpoo. The consultant said he wasn't worried as I'd had two healthy weight babies since, that their recommendation was that I take aspirin, but that ultimately it was my choice and that he would arrange extra scans if I wanted them. I declined. I have 3 kids to run around after already and extra unnecessary appointments don't make life easy! He was happy to refer me back to my midwife with a note for her to refer me if I ever measure small . . . which they do anyway ;) So sadly no scan for me today! What a waste of time and cost me £2.90 in the car park! ;)

Glad to hear you've been referred back to mw care notime. I can see why they do it but this blanket approach where there's no room for any judgement of each patient's situation does seem a waste of resources in some cases. Hopefully I will have a similar experience in a could of weeks time.