Baby’s growth dropping

[Natsmiles]

Hi I’m looking for someone who may be in or has been in the same situation as me. I have been having regular growth scans as my previous baby was only 5 pound 2. I started getting scans and seeing a consultant from 28 weeks since then her growth keeps dropping I had a scan at 32 weeks she was on the tenth centile line went for a scan again yesterday she has now dropped to the 5th now I’ve to wait and see if They phone today to see if they are going to give me steroids and they are now talking about induction at 37 weeks. But they are not telling me if it’s deffo going to happen so I don’t know what to think 2 weeks ago I was told they would induce at 39 cause she’s a small baby but now it’s went down to 37 which makes me feel a bit nervous of how small she will be as just now she is 4 pound 1. The placenta is working fine and the water around the baby is fine I’ve to go in next week for a scan to check the water then the following week for a growth scan again. Can anyone relate and tell me the outcome for them ? I just feel I can’t enjoy the rest of the pregnancy cause I’m a bag of nerves with worry. Ps I’m 34+5

Hi @Natsmiles
My placenta shows signs of calcification at about 28 weeks. I was told this could affect the growth and if growth stopped is be induced at 37?weeks. Growth definitely slowed after

They are suspecting iugr as my previous baby also had that but I can’t get a definitive answer as why her growth is going down instead of staying at a steady pace. If you are getting induced at 37 weeks will you be getting steroids aswell?

Sorry said baby threw his hand up and clicked send!
His growth did begin to slow but was still some growth so she said she would let us keep going but I started getting reduced movements from 35 weeks. Every time though he would move fine on the monitor and the dopplers and water all seemed fine but the movements weren't the same and it just didn't feel right to me. I was consultant led who listened to me and eventually induced me at 37+2..
It turns out baby hadn't got any bigger from 35 weeks. He was smaller than expected at only 5lb 2. Ds did have to spend a week in nicu for reasons they still aren't entirely sure off. He had antibiotics for infection (which he didn't have in the end) and needed a blood transfusion for his iron levels dropping but he is now 12 and a half weeks and doing really well. He is more than double his birth weight and pretty much into the right size baby clothes for his age now.
I am very glad I pushed and he was delivered when he was because I think he definitely needed to be out. By 37 weeks everything is fully developed and baby is only putting on more weight after that.. Which in my case wouldn't have been happening anyway. I wasn't given steroids or anything.

I'm 33 weeks with twins and had a scan yesterday. Twin 2 growth and blood flow in the cord has slowed down so I'm having steroid injections next week and cs the week after so I'll be 35 weeks. I'm also worried about how tiny they will be but consultant sees no problem at all.

I had my other 2 DCs as 37 weeks naturally and they were fine if that helps. Dd was little according to growth scans but was 7lb 2 in the end.

Aw atleast he’s doing well now! You must have been so worried. I feel like every time I ask them a question they give me 3 different answers back. That’s what I though cause they did say yesterday baby is full term at 37 weeks so why would I need steroids never got an answer to that question just got told will phone tomorrow if we need you to come in for it. I know they want what is best for baby and if she’s better out than In then I will follow what they say but I feel I’m blindly getting told what’s happening but with no one telling me why it just makes me worry. I think I will feel a lot better if someone told me what the plan of action is.

It was a really scary time but baby is here safe and well despite it all. He was on the 2nd percentile when born we are now up to the 9th centile.
I have to say when we were in nicu at 5lb 2 he looked big compared to the vast majority of other nicu babies. Alot of them were only 1 or 2 lbs.
A friends little one was born at 35 weeks weighing 5lb 13 so a big bigger but he needed no special care at all and she went into labour naturally so no time for steroids.
I was told I'd only be given the steroids if he needrd to come before the 37 week mark. Ds did have a pneumothorax just after he was born but he was coping with it fine and was breathing OK. I was told that it was small and if he hadn't have been brought to nicu out probable would just have gone unnoticed. I don't know if steroids would have made a difference although after researching it at the time I read they can do no harm
I hope things go well and you get some answers!

Hi nailsathome. Aw so they’re is hope that the scans aren’t accurate ? My consultant wasn’t worried the last few scans it was the one yesterday that had everyone worried. What is the steroids for ? I thought it was to develop the baby’s lungs but if they are waiting till 37 weeks will her lungs not be fully developed by then? I will be nervous every time my phone rings today just incase I’ve to go in. That means she will probs be here at 37 weeks. Ah twins you are going to be busy lol! Do you know what your having?

Ah thank you smurf123 I just think I needed somewhere to vent a little and hear other people’s stories! Glad everything is better now and he’s growing great x

A friend of mine had this and had her baby by c-section at 34 weeks weighing only 3lb 12 oz. As pp said by three months she was in normal baby clothes and now she's a perfectly normal happy 3-year-old

Although it's a scary time the good thing is that you are getting the care that you need and everything is being done to make sure you get a healthy baby at the end of it. Try not to panic! xx

Hi, I can relate how nervous you must be, but I've got a positive story from my experience. My son was delivered by C-section at 33 weeks, because of IUGR. He was only 2lb8, so just about fir into our hands.

Anyway. It was the same for me, I went to hospital constantly, was told he wasn't growing and they would deliver by week 37. Well one day I went in at 32 weeks and they kept me in as I didn't have any water left and the blood flow from the placenta was reversed. They fave me steroids and 3 days later delivered him.

As comparison, he was on the 0.4th percentile for his corrected preemie age and way way way below any of the weight charts for his actual age. The drs don't take risks so they've given us the best care before and after his birth (and still do - he gets special treatment and fast track with GP and hospital etc).

So, 1 year later, (it's his birthday in a couple of weeks) he's just made it onto the 0.4th percentile of the weight chart, but 25th for height... he's super healthy, bang on for development and the happiest child around. I know what a nervous wreck I was, But now it's so easy to forget what happened before he was born. If you have any questions ask away and trust your consultants to do their best. I wish you the best of luck!!!!

Oh and as to your question about steroids: they hive those immediately before delivery. Around 3-3 days before, so don't think they'd wait until week 37 if you needed those

Yes the steroids are for lungs. Maybe they're just being extra prepared with you in case they need to deliver earlier or so that it's one less thing to worry about? They really should have gone through it all. Can you call them today so at least you know what the plan is? Have they put anything on your scan report as they've typed my plan up on mine

I'm having identical girls x

My first baby had IUGR due to placental insufficiency and it was also discovered I had ogliohydraminous. The only reason this was discovered was because I stopped feeling her move much and I just KNEW that something wasn't right. At my 32 week MW check I was measuring 29cm but nothing was picked up. No concerns raised. At 37 weeks I went to the FMU and raised concerns and they relented and scanned me and the deepest pocket of fluid was 1cm and she was measuring small. I hadn't had PROM so they said then and there that I would be induced that day and was told to go home and get my bag. The special care team came to visit me in labour and told me that she might have to spend some time with them but not to worry etc. I was told I would be a low threshold caesarean as they didn't know how she'd handle labour but she did amazingly well! She was born naturally weighing 5lb 8oz and she didn't need any time in SCBU, just had slight issues with jaundice. Good luck hun x

Ah thank you everyone I feel a lot better now. I don’t think I will be getting steroids as they haven’t phoned. I just felt yesterday everything was rushed and no one really answered any of my questions. I have to go back in next week anyways for a scan so I will try and get them to explain it more when I go back just seems they are always in a hurry. But thank you everyone x

This happened to me - I was told she had stopped growing at 6-7lbs. They needed to induce me, I waited 9 days for induction and when she was born she was 8lbs 9. She hadn't stopped growing, she was measured wrong 😡

Hi hotpinkangel19 I have heard stories that the scans aren’t very good with guessing the weight but that’s a huge difference wonder how they managed to do that! How many weeks where you when you got induced ?