Small baby at 29 weeks - worried

[junebug121]

Hi ladies

Just looking for some reassurance I suppose. We went for a growth scan at 28 weeks because I have arthritis and found out our little guy is measuring below the 5th percentile.

We went for a follow up scan today and they're mentioning potential chromosomal issues. We did get a high combined risk but then we had the Harmony which was low. So now I don't know what to think.

I'm finding it all so overwhelming. It hasn't been an easy pregnancy, worrying about the initial high risk and then I've had a couple of small bleeds. Now we have this.

So I'm living to the next scan to see if he's grown. All I can think is that there is something seriously wrong and I'm stressed every time he goes a bit quiet. He's an IVF baby, so we had such a journey to get here and I just need him to be healthy.

Has anyone else been made to worry only to find out everything was ok?

Thanks for sharing your story MrsFee, so glad your little one is doing well! Mine is currently hiccuping inside me

Little update from me and bump. Our induction has been brought forward to tomorrow. He wasn’t moving as much over the weekend and although he’s back to normal now, during monitoring they noticed his heart rate dropped a few times. They don’t seem overly concerned but have decided better to deliver him sooner rather than later.
So hopefully we now don’t have too long to wait to meet him.
x

My pregnancy with dd3 was a rough ride we had a high nuchal fold measurement and I was very high risk for downs and Edwards etc. I was on the scan pathway and had to have regular scans and at 38 weeks she hadn't grown at all so was booked in to be induced. Little madam came night before induction she weighed 5lb 13ozs the only concerns with her were a v crease and 2 dimples but drs say they are blind and shouldn't cause her any issues. She's 11 weeks old now and a very smiley baby who has pulled herself to sitting twice so far.

I also had a preterm at 32 weeks weighing 4lb 1 and a half oz he's 7 now and unless you was told you wouldn't know he came early.
Good luck with the induction and enjoy the new baby snuggles

Hope you're doing well Junebug - thinking of you and your bump today!

So yesterday at 3:44am Arthur James Surname was born by emergency c-section. I was in for induction and then while on the monitor for the billionth time they decided he needed to come out ASAP and DH barely made it before they made the incision. He is a diddy little thing which we think is due to a fairly crappy, thin chord. So only 4lb 5oz but perfectly formed. Just lacking in the fat department! They have taken blood to rule out genetic issues but he doesn’t have any of the markers.
He is in neonatal because he was struggling to control his temp and blood sugars were low but he is doing well. I just hate leaving him down there and coming up to the ward where all the mums have their babies I just cannot wait to get him home.
Thanks for all your support ladies, it has meant a lot. I will update again once we have the blood results back but I am really hoping we will get the all clear and it’s just about fattening this boy up! Now if only I could manage to hand express a useful amount, that is the next challenge.
x

June I’ve just read your account through and wanted to reassure you that they do catch up.

They didn’t pick up on ds being small and he was born at 42 weeks, 5.5. I had a small placenta, though apparently very healthy.

Regarding expressing etc, it’s tiny amounts at first anyway so a few drops is something. Please consider calling a la leche league helpline or the Nct bf help line to talk it through. There is also a network of milk donation in the country, though colostrum would be best right now.

They could also talk to you about power pumping if you struggle with getting supply up.

Ds quickly reached the 25th and is still there I think at almost 5. Bright and strong and full of energy. He looks no different in height to his friends!

Oh and congratulations!!

Congratulations June! And cheering for your little boy to get the all clear and be in your arms very very soon!

Congratulations!! I hope the blood results are all clear. It's amazing how quickly the little ones stack the weight on - my midwife said they often come out hungry and more than make up for their lack of food in the womb. This has definitely been the case for my DS. I hope you're not separated from your DS for much longer.

My nephew was measuring small from 20 weeks and risk of downs. At 37 weeks Mum was induced and they expected him to be 3.5lbs hopefully. He came out a whopping 6lbs and has had no issues since birth. Rather simplistic summary, but similar to what you are experiencing. The umbilical cord wasn't working properly and he wasn't getting everything he needed/it could have failed at any point. Can't remember what it was called now.

Thanks for the well wishes! Arthur is doing ok, he’s got jaundice which I think was to be expected so he’s on the sun bed at the moment.
I’m trying my best to hand express which is thankfully getting easier.
It is difficult not being with him all the time but I know he’s in the best place and just hoping we can get him well and some extra weight on him soon so we can bring him home.

Hi Junebug - I was just thinking about you. Congratulations. DS2 was born at 35+2 and had to stay in SBCU for 10 days because of blood sugars, calcium and jaundice. Once he started putting on weight we were allowed to go.

Have you started a machine for expressing yet?

I remember just wanting to get home and how it felt like such a drag but now it feels like such a short time in there and my boisterous 2 year old is currently wrecking my living room.

I'm currently 35+3 and baby is still growing along the 3rd percentile but my blood pressure is rising and I may have a kidney infection, so I don't think it'll be too long for I meet the little one now. They said if all is fine (which I think is very optimistic) they'll book my induction at my appointment at 37 weeks for 38-40 weeks.

Bisquick so sorry to hear about the loss of your little boy. Wishing you the very best for this pregnancy, I can't imagine how anxious you must be.

Junebug121 I hope you don't mind me jumping in, but we're in a similar boat at the moment (albeit luckily a bit further on in pregnancy). It's been a rollercoaster of emotions this week, just really hard. Anyway, just wanted you to know you're not alone. Hoping for the best for you.

Oops, sorry junebug I somehow totally managed to miss that this had 3 pages and only read the first page! Congratulations on the birth of your little boy, I hope you're both doing well and you can start fattening him up soon .

Congratulations!

We also had growth issues identified at 28 weeks. Ours were due to blood flow, although they said there could be chromosomal issues. We limped through a very stressful 6 weeks until she was delivered at 34 weeks at 3lb6. She had a few weeks in nicu with jaundice and infection while she worked towards the minimum discharge weight. She's now three, still petite but otherwise appears unscathed by her dicey gestation.

Lightgreenglass - I can’t wait for my little boy to be wrecking the living room! Although right now I’d just like him out from underneath those lights so I can cuddle him some more! You’re right these days do drag but i am trying to remember that like you say, in reality it is such a short period of our lives together.
I am going to start on the pump today. I am now managing to hand express 2ml or more every couple of hours. So hopefully I’m ready to get on the pump they have in the NICU and I can also borrow one from them.
I hope your latest bundle arrives safely and not too early. Has it been low Papp-a in both pregnancies that have meant both bubs have measured small/arrived early? I’m wondering whether if I ever get pregnant again I’ll have the same issue with the cord.
Happinesssquared - I hope you’re ok! I know how emotionally draining it can all be. Do they know why your little one is small? We still have a few question marks hanging over us and I can’t for them all to be answered so that we can draw a line under it all.
eurochick - really glad your little girl has no lasting effects from arriving early. You’re totally right when you refer to it as limping through, that is what the last 6 weeks of my pregnancy felt like. Although it’s not nice him being in an incubator, at least I can see him, touch him and know he is being looked after.

Thanks Junebug, I hope you are able to be free of NICU soon but glad to hear expressing is going well for you. Take care of yourself - pregnancy and birth is tough enough as it is, NICU is just really hard.

With us they don't seem to know why the baby is small. They have said it could either just be a small baby (but our last baby was quite hefty as are all of those in our family), a chromosomal abnormality (our risk was low on the standard screening) or placental problem (but doppler was normal)...so we feel quite clueless and afraid. It feels like a waiting game, it could be nothing at all, it could be very serious, I know you'll probably understand that feeling well. I hope the questions are answered for you soon though at least.

DS2 was just premature - I think due to a bad case of gingervitis which meant my waters broke at 34+4 so had to be induced. He was 5lbs 12oz so definitely not a small baby or experienced restricted growth. DS1 was on the 75th centile and my Papp-A with both of them was normal.

All three of my pregnancies have all been very different. No two are the same - so it maybe next time you won't have restricted growth or issues with the cord. Fingers crossed.

Congratulations! Wonderful news at the end of at tough journey x

Congratulations Junebug! I’m delighted that all is well with Arthur. Don’t stress too much about breastfeeding. I expressed for the first 6 weeks with DS1 which was tiring but manageable.