Growth chart

[surreygirl1987]

Hello

I could do with some advice about baby's growth chart in my maternity notes. I'm kicking myself for not looking at it more carefully before now.

For my first bump measurement I was measured by a student midwife and was told my measurement was normal. However I realise now it comes out as 5th percentile on my graph. The 'small print' under the graph says the midwife should refer for a growth scan if under 10th percentile. Nobody mentioned this to me...

For my second bump measurenent, again the midwife (a different lady) said my measurement was normal. However I just realised that this measurement is completely missing from my graph - i guess she forgot to put it on (?!).

For my third and most recent measurement, I saw a different midwife yet again. She measured me and then asked how tall I am (I am very tall). I asked why, and she said that the fact that I'm tall might explain why I'm measuring 'small'. This was the first time I'd been told I'm small so I didn't say anything but had a good look at my chart when I got home and realised all this. I seem to currently be 12th percentile and 2cm 'small'. Now, that alone doesn't massively concern me, but the fact that I apparently should have been referred for a growth scan weeks ago, and that I'm missing a measurement on my chart, does worry me. Would I be justified in requesting a growth scan based on this? Slightly anxious and feel SO guilty that I'm only realising all this now!!

Thanks!

Yes I would request a growth scan. You are going to be anxious and worried about it otherwise. Seems reasonable given that they have missed it twice.
Look at mama academy website for information on individualised growth charts (taking account of your height, weight and ethnicity) which gives a much better idea of where you are percentile wise. These are supported by Tommy's the baby charity and are being launched as absolute best care throughout the country, as with most things it is taking a while for trusts to catch up.
Good luck.

Thanks so much. I've rang up the midwife team and am expecting a call back today so I'll explain all this and push for a scan.

I will check out that reccomendation from you right now - thanks again!!

Was the first measurement done at your 25 week appointment by any chance? The GAP policy doesn’t come into effect until 26 weeks so scan department probably wouldn’t accept a referral for a growth scan at 25 weeks. I don’t measure at 25 weeks for that reason.

12th centile is completely normal. MW definitely shouldn’t have missed the measurement off your chart but it would be easy enough to check what it was in the written section of your notes and check where it would plot on the chart.

Many thanks for your reply. Yes it was 25+4 so maybe that's why they ignored ithe 5th percentile then.
As for 12th percentile and 2cm 'small though - that was actually what the midwife herself said. I wouldn't have noticed it if she hadn't said I was small and asked how tall I was...

Yes - I've now found the missing measurement in the written section of my notes as you suggested... But if I plot it onto my graph it makes a peculiar inverted curve shape as though the baby isn't growing. So either there's something wrong with baby's growth, or a midwives measurement was at least a couple of centimetres out at some point, gah!

Anyway I rang up yesterday and left a message so hopefully will get a call back today.