HELP!!! 33+2, small baby

[cherry1980]

I really need some advice
baby is measuring small on the scans, just tiny bit below the 10th centile, but growing by a steady curve. I had a growth scan too, same results, they scared us. Went to get a private scan 2 days ago and their measurements were perfect, everything pretty average, so we were quite happy and relieved! Back to the consultant today, he got the same results as on the private scans, only to tell me baby is too small! I am 5'8 so I am expected to have a big baby I guess, but I was a small baby myself, born full term at 2200g, and my 2 sisters were small too. My concern is that the doc was talking about steroid injections and referred me for another growth scan on Monday. I refused the steroids (for now), as I don't want to take any drastic steps as I don't feel the baby is THAT small. How much can I trust the growth chart they are using and has anyone experienced anything like this? I'm really freaking out here there is plenty fluid around the baby, heartbeat is good, plenty movements.

The growth charts are useless. I was measuring 4 WEEKS under the whole time. It worried be a little but I read that they are going towards personal growth graphs because the one they do doesn't account for women of all heights and weights. It really is pointless. My dd was born 40+1 7lb 14oz.

Thank you lostowl! they made me very nervous today, he didn't answer any of my questions, and was throwing things like if baby is small u can have stillbirth, baby can have bleeding to brain etc... and I am only measuring a week behind. I'd love to listen to my gut feeling that says everything is OK, but they really put me on the edge here

I'm measuring 3-4 weeks behind. I did for my first too and she was 8lb at birth. They said as long as this one is growing they're happy. So I had 2 scans 2 weeks apart on the 10th centile both times but the baby had grown as expected. So try not to worry I don't know whey they're suggesting intervention but I'd want o know more before I agreed to anything.

Winegumaddict I just don't understand why are they saying I need intervention when baby is growing on the same (I think 9th) centile.. it marks just below the 10th. I wanted to find out more, but got no answer to my questions at all. The doc only told me the risks... stillbirth, bleeding to brain, TTN, big-big words to scare the life out of me. When I asked is there anything else wrong other than size below the line, he said nothing!

cherry1980 As a mum of 2 growth restricted babies (first one was undetected until things were REALLY bad at 33 weeks and had to be born immediately), and as someone who read most of the literature in the area, my advice is:

First, dont just trust NHS and do a doppler test (if they refuse to do it go private if you can), because only a doppler will tell you if baby is in danger or not; doing that is what saved my 1st child and allowed to monitor my 2nd child; in an ideal world all babies suspected of growth restriction and similar problems should have this.

Second, do the steroids injections just in case... I had them for both my children and they made all the difference because when they had to be born their lungs were mature and they didnt need help for breathing (even my 33 weeker who was 1.2 kg). It may not be nothing, but then again they always told me my small baby was just small and it turned out it was more than that... These injections are safe!

Good luck and relax because you're already at a safe gestation.

ApasoB we are booked in for a private Doppler and wellbeing scan tomorrow evening. Had one done on NHS, but they only seemed to have concerns about babies size... on the private 3D they had no concerns, all seemed perfectly normal, average size, etc (on Wednesday). NHS done a quick scan yesterday (Friday) and all of a sudden baby is too small again and referred us back for a growth scan next week, we are very confused at this point. Just will have to wait and see what tomorrow this other Doppler&Growth scan says, NHS has been letting us down big time so far! As for the steroid shots, I understand the advantages of it, but I am not entirely convinced it won't have any side effects, especially if -so far-all the private scans are saying I don't need it, and the NHS doctor could not have a single credible point, other than baby is measuring on the smaller side. - we have been told before, baby is not small, baby is long, hence the weight might show a bit smaller on the scans. Hard to swallow that even when I ask all these questions, the doctor just looks at me as if I just came off the moon and totally ignores everything I say, pretty frustrating! Fingers crossed we will be able to put our minds at rest tomorrow!

My bump didn't grow to expectations. At 36 weeks I was 5.5cm too small so 5.5 weeks behind. I had a couple of growth scans. The sonographer said it was basically a waste of time as everyone is different and my bump was probably small as I am tall (5'10"). At the first growth scan she was on 50th percentile. At the second she was in a bad position so the first set of measurements put her at 3rd percentile, on remeasuring she was on the 25th. She was born at 41 weeks on 75th percentile, 3.67kg. It really is very inaccurate but must be stressful when they are pushing further interventions and talking about risks. Hope it all goes well.

user1471507699 thank you, that sounds reassuring to me. It is very frustrating that they keep talking about interventions and scaring the crap out of me. Yet, they can not pin point anything wrong (or at least not telling me), and when I show them results of private scans, they say they are not even going to look at those. I want the best for my baby, obviously, and I am not at all sure that interventions are needed at this point. Yet, if I don't let them, they treat me as the bad patient putting my baby at risk...

Measuring the bump is the most ridiculous and dangerous way to monitor a baby's growth. With my first, I was measuring ever so slightly above the 90th so the hospital were expecting a 7lb7 - 8lb baby. My waters broke first and when I eventually gave birth my DS was just 6lb4. I'd been carrying a lot of water which hadn't been picked up because my bump was the correct size but if you carry excess water it should always be monitored. They recommend you for a hospital labour as you can often need intervention when in labour and I was booked in for a midwifery unit delivery where there are no doctors! Luckily I ended up in hospital because my waters had broken first.

Try not to panic too much. Bumps come in all shapes and sizes and will hanger depending on how baby is positioned etc and the measuring of the bump is so highly inaccurate a lot of the time.

Fingers crossed that all is well for you.

Becciilouisex3 yes I agree! My bump size isn't the issue for me tho, it's baby on scans. even tho baby is measuring 32w4d at 33wks, and the weight is a whooping 1858g (4lb2oz) - on my personal chart they r plotting it just under the 10th centile!

Becciilouisex3 yes I agree! My bump size isn't the issue for me tho, it's baby on scans. even tho baby is measuring 32w4d at 33wks, and the weight is a whopping 1858g (4lb2oz) - on my personal chart they r plotting it just under the 10th centile!

personally I'd have the steriods (no harm to the baby but could be a lifesaver) and keep going for the extra scans. Unless they can see something is wrong they wont step in, just keep you monitored. Which is surely a good thing? I was monitored for a small bump, nothing wrong until week 40 and growth tailed off. then they stepped in and induced. I'm so grateful they did as you don't know what would happen. There are lots of stories of their measurements being wrong either way. Im now expecting DC2 and will also have more scans. Part of me thinks i just grow small babies but also I like the reassurance

I measured huge the whole way through (99th percentile), to the point of booking extra doctors for the day I was induced, extra scans etc. No wonder I was convinced I wouldn't be able to push her out! She was born 3kg750, perfectly normal. I call BS