Small baby - everyone worrying me!!

[Hannabee123]

Hi everyone
I had a growth scan the other day (nearly 34 weeks) and the sonographer asked our birth weights and started saying there is growth compared to the last scan but not as expected. She said we will have a small baby.
We went to see a consultant who has booked us in for another scan in 2 weeks to check the growth again and said that it could possibly be that the measurement is off or it could be problems with the placenta/cord.
The lady did a Doppler and blood flow sounded fine?

I know these scans can be complete bollocks but if they keep finding that she is measuring small will they have her out?

I'm stressed beyond words everyone telling me not to be but has anyone been in a similar situation?
Just want to know what will happen if she isn't growing how they expect :(

Me!! They kept telling me she was tiny, and they thought she had a heart condition, over and over they said I’d be lucky if she was over 6lb!! Everything went fine, had her on my due date, no heart problems and she was 8,5. God knows what was going on but I was panicking like you until the end. So try not to worry to much x

I was induced at 37 weeks because I was told DD was tiny, 5lb at best. I had fortnightly growth scans from 28 weeks.
She came out at a lovely 7lb2 at exactly 38 weeks (induction took a week).
I really wouldn't worry.

My friend was just induced on her due date as the baby was deemed to be 'massive'...predicted to be 9.5lb plus. This was by multiple growth scans.
The baby was 7.5lb!!!
Remember that even a baby on the 0.5 centile is an average normal weight...its a normally distributed curve!

I had growth scans with all 3 of mine (not triplets may I add), I had scans fortnightly. I was told they'd be tiny. They arrived and 2 were 6lbs something and one was 7lb.

My ‘massive’ baby was 7.12 at 40+10.

Right.

I was told to expect baby anytime from 28 weeks and then had to go for growth scans, told to expect a tiny baby any day now! She was 9 days late weighing 8.5, don’t worry yourself

SIL had same, although slightly earlier than you at 30 weeks.
At the 2nd scan referred to by a consultant at 32 weeks Baby hadn't grown so she was given steroid injections for baby's lungs, she had x3 hospital appt that week for blood-flow monitoring and heartbeat checks, saw consultant again at 33 weeks, baby had grown but only minimally so induction booked. She delivered nephew naturally at 33.5 and although he was small (4lbs) he wasn't the 2lb they'd told her to expect. Luckily he didn't need any special care and is now a gorgeous healthy 10month old.
It was a worrying time though. Fingers crossed for you.

Thanks so if they continue to measure small would they get her out sooner or leave until due date

I was told baby was over 8lb around my due date, she was born 8 days late at 7lb 2

I had weekly growth scans from 20 weeks. They said dd would be tiny and her legs weren't growing. ELCS at 39+4 She was 7.5lbs and her legs were fine.

Hannahbee, I think it's less about size and more about growth. I think, as your pretty far on, if baby wasn't growing very well then they may want to deliver early.
I had loads of extra scans with my DD as she was measuring small, but was growing. Had an elective CS at 39 weeks and she was small, but perfectly formed!
Try not to worry. I know sometimes the docs can be a bit over cautious, but they just want you and baby tone well!

Hi OP

I had similar - from around 32 weeks I had regular dopplers and growth scans. They said my placenta was fine but by 37 weeks they said they wanted to induce me as was safer to have her out than in. Tried for three days and nights to induce me but she just wasn't ready so ended up with a c section - not emergency, but semi urgent, had few hours to get our heads around it.

Our baby girl arrived 38 +2 and weighed 5lb 2 oz so small but not tiny. No problems - she's almost 2 now.

I'd just say try not to worry, but trust the advice you're given as its in your and your baby's best interests. I'm sure all will b okay - keep us posted and good luck! X

One thing to pay close attention to. Yes growth scans can be substantially out, but if they are saying growth is slowing, then that is a different story.

I am currently 38 weeks pregnant having refused to be induced at 37 weeks. I am only holding this position as, whilst my baby is on the small side, her growth has been textbook, right along the 10th centile. If at any point they had told me growth was slowing, then I would be induced in a shot. The risk is just not worth it.

Another one here who was there or we’d have a huge baby...she was born at 41weeks 6lbs 4oz

I was induced at 37 (+5) due to my bubs being small. She was 5lbs 1oz. My blood pressure was high at my 36 week midwife check so got sent up to the hospital which is when they found she was tiny.
She’s now 10 weeks and was 8lbs 4oz when she was weighed last week. Still tiny but she’s absolutely fine.

Hi op. I had regular growth scans due to my low bmi. I was told he was measuring normally...two weeks later I gave birth and he was a teeny 5lb 2. I don't think the scans are at all accurate if that reassures you! He's now 6 months and weighs 12 lb (still in 0-3 mth clothes) but he's been seen by a few doctors who say he's absolutely fine in every way...he's gaining weight little by little, is very active and alert and the general consensus is that he's just naturally a small baby! He's started on solids and has a massive appetite so no feeding problems. I'm sure your little one will be perfectly fine too. X

I had the opposite. Measurements were showing he was going to be a big baby and they would need to keep an eye on him etc etc
He was 6lb 2oz when born but perfectly strong and healthy. It's easier said than done but try not to worry - the general policy seems to be overkill on medical intervention to 'be on the safe side' where I wonder in a lot of cases if they'd be better off just leaving alone.

My baby was predicted to be 9.5 lbs, she was 8lb 3 and that was at 15 days late!! Don't worry

Sick of seeing sleeping babies out in their car seat pram! Jealous !

Please please please read my earlier post. If you are being told that growth is slowing, this is something you need to pay attention to. Size on scans can be out, but they will be able to tell if growth is slowing much more accurately.

If your baby is growing more slowly than expected as shown by multiple scans over a period of time, then this suggests there is a problem and your baby would be more likely to do better on the outside.

"the general policy seems to be overkill on medical intervention to 'be on the safe side' where I wonder in a lot of cases if they'd be better off just leaving alone."

I think you'd be wrong there then.

Many hospitals are now moving towards mother-specific estimation of fetal growth, so working out if a baby is small for you. Obviously the only way to do this is by growth scans, which are flawed but are the best thing that we've got at the moment. By doing this, and by inducing those babies earlier, the risks of stillbirth have halved in some hospitals!

www.mamaacademy.org.uk/for-midwives/made-to-measure/

Had growth scans with both of mine.
DS was attributed to midwife error in measurement of my bump at 38wk appt. Referred for growth scan which at 39+4 estimated healthy 7lb6 baby. Born a week later 8lb.

DD had scans and measurements from wk 30. I carried very small. Scans every fortnight. Monitoring at day unit. She was showing increases but it was slow. Lots of concerns. Was told to take a bag to each appointment in case they wanted me in there and then. I made it very clear (personal reasons) I would not have an induction. If they deemed it enough of an emergency that my baby needed delivering early I would have c sec. In the end was agreed growth, although slow, was still progressing so let nature take it's course. Last scan at 38+4 estimated 6lb at that time. DD born (4 hour labour !) At 39+6 at 5lb5. She was tiny. So scrawny. I had suffered pretty bad hyperemesis throughout pregnancy with her.

My advice. Take it easy. Ask outright for information. Do a bit of research on induction / c sections and share your concerns if you have any issues or questions about these procedures if seems likely you may end up being advised down that route. Do try to remember it's all in the best interests of your baby. Get your bags sorted!

My DS was apparently sub 5th centile from 32 weeks onwards so had lots of extra scans. Arrived by CS at 39 weeks and was a healthy 7 pounds 2. Now one of the tallest in his class at 5 yo.

I know people say the scans can be awfully untrue but I think I'm going to get car seat sorted and bags just in case.
Movement is fine she's moving around at her normal times - mostly active in the evenings.
They said to keep an eye on movement until my scan in 2 weeks. Worst case scenario is she comes out if something's wrong.

Hopefully the scan is just talking crap! Going to be a long week and a bit until the scan though

My baby was meant to be 6-7 pounds and born at 4. She was tiny but we only spent 4 days in the hospital and now she is almost 7, just 5 weeks later. You'll be ok.