Being sent for Growth Scan, should I be worried?

[Willoway]

Went for my 34 week appointment today and was measured. Three midwives came in to retake the measurements and one turned to the other and said 'growth scan'.

I'm booked in for next week but now I'm panicking. I've gone above the curve in my pregnancy notes and it's quite a jump! I was tested for gestational diabetes and that came back negative, no sugar in my urine. This is my first pregnancy and I've come home and can't stop crying. I don't mind being induced and having baby early, as long as he's healthy!

Is there any advice anyone can give me? All in all baby is moving according to his pattern, has a very strong heartbeat, and so far I've not had any issues. Has anyone else had a similar experience? If so. how did it turn out?

Oh they did this to me at 36 weeks. I was going to have a huge 10 lb baby blah blah blah. Eventually my measurements settled down, they can’t have been too concerned about her growth because they let me goes ten days over, she was born about 5 hours before I was due to be induced. 8lb 13oz

I just had one as my bump was measuring big for gestation (off the charts big). At the actual scan, she was measuring 90th percentile so big but not worryingly so. I wouldn't panic or get upset about it. Fundal height measurements are really inaccurate and even ultrasounds aren't that accurate when it comes to estimating weight. And if your baby is on the bigger size, it's good to know now rather than on the day!

Just look on it as another opportunity to see your baby!

This was me for 2 out of three pregnancies. One I was just monitored more closely and then by the end the measurements evened up. The other pregnancy I was diagnosed with polyhydramnious (excess amniotic fluid), again was monitored on a more regular basis and they weren't going to let me go over-I was going to be induced but in the end I went in labour 2 days early and apart from there being a lot of fluid when my waters broke everything was absolutely fine

Whilst I can't directly comment on your situation, I will say that growth scans are becoming more common. All of the women I know were offered at least one in their final trimester and I was offered three in my last pregnancy. My previous two pregnancies were 10+ years previous and no growth scans were offered , my three were around the same size at birth by the way.

I think they mostly do them as a precaution because the tape measure isn't always the best indication of a baby's size.

Try not to worry and please update us when you've had your scan.

Please don't worry, it is very common.
Measuring with a tape measure is not very accurate and some trusts don't even do it at all anymore

Since they introduced the personalised growth chart very recently, my midwife advised me that getting referred for growth scans is now extremely common whereas a few years ago it was rare. I had a big leap in my last pregnancy but it was purely down to the fact that the baby had changed position and it was making my bump look bigger. Absolutely no need to panic!

Thank you all! I feel less anxious about it all now Definitely looking forward to seeing my little one on the screen again. As it's my first pregnancy I seem to worry about everything But as long as he's healthy and okay that's all that matters! Thank you so much for the reassurance x

I had to have several growth scans and was told my baby would be over 9lbs ish, she was born at 39+2 weighing under 7lb! All that worry over nothing! The scans are so inaccurate, try not to worry

Mine jumped to above the 90th centile at my last two midwife appointments, actual birthweight was 8lb8oz! Try not to worry, it’s just a precaution.

I wouldn’t worry about it. I was at the other end of the spectrum, midwife just told me to keep an eye on baby’s movements until the scan 😊

Don’t worry op. I got sent for two at 38 and 40 weeks due to bump staying the same size and being on the small side. I was furious because they said something completely insensitive like ‘ you are really measuring small , why hasn’t anyone sent you for a growth scan yet?’ Baby was fine - just low down. Between scans his estimated weightcwent from 7lb to 8lb 8. Born 7lb 2 and now very healthy boy.

My bump measurements puts me on the small side but the growth scans suggest that baby is above the 90th percentile...I don’t know what to think about how they measure babies haha

Hi all!
Thank you so much for all the encouraging words. I've had my scan today, and as it turns out the midwives readings were way off! He is on course to be an estimated 8lbs 5oz and is in the growing lines, albeit the nurse did say he had a bit of a belly on him (must follow daddy ).

You were all so brilliant at replying I just thought I'd give you all an update. Thank you!

Fantastic news

I was sent for a growth scan around 34 weeks because the midwife said I was measuring above the 90th centile. At the scan they told me I was actually measuring below the 5th. They gave me steroid injections and monitored me for a few weeks (more scans) before deciding to induce at 37.6. My baby was 4lbs when he was born and had a 2 week stay in the Neonatal Unit due to various complications but he's now 12 weeks and although still small, he's doing fine. Fundal measurements and even the actual scans seem to be very inaccurate so try not to worry too much. At least you have people monitoring you now who will try to act in the best interests of your baby. All the best.