Measuring small for dates - any advice please?

[annobal]

I'm 35+2 today and saw my MW yesterday. I am measuring 30 weeks so she has booked me in for a scan (the earliest i can get in is Tuesday). I know that it is stupid worrying about it now, before I can do anything about it - baby is still moving a lot and I was ill with a stomach virus 3 weeks ago (didn't eat for 3 days) so the baby could be catching up.

What would the risks be associated with this? If there is a problem with the placenta what are the possible outcomes?

It is all very subjective and someone else might measure you at 33 or 34 so I wouldn't worry about it unless the scan shows a problem. I was measured by my midwife at 32cm at 36 weeks then the obs measured me at 36 cm a few days later and ds was a good size.

Don't worry about it until you have had the scan - I know half a dozen people who were told they were measuring small for dates and every single one showed up perfectly normal on scanning.

If you can feel the baby moving lots and feel your tummy is getting bigger in your clothes then that's all good signs.

That happened to me, annobal. When I got there, they seemed quite annoyed about the time-wasting.

My lad was only 6lb when born, but fighting fit - and his weight rose rapidly once born.

I'm not aware of any risks associated with a late scan, and I know nothing about placentas (apart from the fact that they're bigger than the Star Ship Enterprise), but I'm sure you've nothing to worry about.

You're on the last furlong ... try not to fret

I had the same problem but did find out i had lost some waters My baby was little too at 5lb. Im sure all is fine and if baby is moving its a good sign
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
L

Thank you for your answers. Am now feeling reassured . I know it is no use worrying until I have had the scan but as much as I try not to worry...

Don't worry about it. I saw a couple of different midwives towards the end of my pregnancy and they all mesured the bump differently.

I was told I was going to a small baby due to the size of my bump but delivered and 8lb 3oz ds.

Annobal - I was sent for a growth scan at 36wks as was only measuring 30cm (hadn't changed for 4wks) - had the growth scan which concluded DD was fine but likely to only be around 6lbs - she was born 8lb 10ozs 10 days later!!! Let us know how it goes - it is always a worry you are not being stupid! x

years ago, my df was 12 hours away from being taken in for c section because they were worried about the size of the baby when suddenly she gave birth to my godson and he weighed 7lb 10.
Please try not to worry.

Don't worry, it is a precaution - if there was anything to worry about they would have you in and under observation. That happened to me - I went in for a routine check and they refused to let me out - even escorted me to the ante natal ward and wouldn't even let me go to the car for my bag, dh had to get down to the hospital somehow and pick it all up!!

I had similar size / growth issues with dd and the scan was actually very intresting - they ran a 'doppler' (I think that is what it was called) test on the cord to make sure the blood etc was running properly, and monitored us over the next few weeks. DD was 5lbs 13oz and is still tiny, so just meant to be small

I had the same scenario at about the same time with ds3. He ended up being the biggest of my babies at 8lb 10oz - so not exactly small!

Don't worry before the scan - it could be absolutely nothing. IN fact I know several people in RL who have also been for scans around now and all has been well.

I measured small for dates at about 32 weeks during both my pregnancies. ds was 8lb4oz, dd was 8lb5oz. I didn't particularly worry with ds as I had plenty of movement - like you there was a reasonable lead time before the precautionary extra scan. With dd because it was following the same pattern as ds they didn't bother to send me for scans (again I felt plenty of movement).

hi, with my dd3 [my fourth] i kept saying that i felt smaller than with the others, but the consultant took me in 2 weeks early as they measured the baby to be large. and she turned out to be the smallest baby i had, weighing in at 7lb11, my largest baby weighing in at 9lb12. and the dd2 they kept saying was going to be about 6 or 7lb ended up being 9lb

Thank you everyone - it's good to know there are no horror stories. I am feeling much better about the scan and will let you know how I get on on Tuesday

oh i had this with both DDs. it really stressed me the first time.
At 33 weeks the midwife told me i was measuring only 24 weeks and sent me for an urgent scan. needless to say i didn't sleep for 3 nights!
anyway it happened to be that the baby was lying transverse and she was measuring me as if the baby was upright. what a joke, all that patting it really isn't very accurate you know.

then another midwife, different surgery, did the SAME thing with DD2. i didn't stress that time though. has happened to lots of my friends too... all were fine. so please please try not to worry. Even if the baby is measuring small at this point, then all they'll do is monitor/bedrest you. You're nearly there anyway!