Handhold please - SGA and induction

[Starshapeddreams]

So I'm 37+ weeks and had a scan today showing baby has fallen below the 5th centile and the consultant has booked me for induction on Sunday morning.

I am terrified as she started mentioning increased risks of chromosomal abnormalities because of the small size and that baby might not cope with labour and I could end up with ECS.

Bit of background pregnancy has been very normal upuntil now, I've had a small bump but midwives were unconcerned as it was growing. Had a scan for reduced movement last week which is when they first noticed baby was small.

Anyone else any similar experiences/advice?

Thanks

Hi, easier said than done but try not to worry - it sounds like you’re being well looked after! I was in this situation and was induced at 37+2 after a series of reduced movements and growth scans (originally they were concerned about IUGR but eventually decided she was just small for dates, around the 3rd percentile). At the last scan she was estimated at 5lb 3. They recommended induction, and although they couldn’t be specific about the risks, just alluding to ‘poorer outcomes’ I decided to go with their advice. She was born at 37+6 weighing 5lb - she’s now 6 weeks old and doing really well. Still tiny but very alert and happy and gaining weight slowly!

I will say that I have found feeding a tiny baby - particularly with the tiring process of induction - more challenging and I wish I’d been prepared for that, but we’re getting through it. If you want to breastfeed I’d get lots of support from the outset if you do struggle, you will probably be fine though!

It is all a bit scary but remember that some babies are just small - the majority of the time there’s no reason for it. And you don’t have to be induced if you don’t want to - do read up on it before making a decision so you feel you have all the facts. Good luck!

Also on having an ECMS, this is a possibility but at 37+ weeks there is a good chance your baby will cope with labour - what is the estimated weight? They will monitor you constantly throughout and as long as baby’s heart rate is fine you should be ok. Towards the end of my labour my baby got tired and they had to get her out quicker but it was all ok and managed to avoid the ECMS.

I was induced at 38+2 due to small sized baby and reduced water, she was born at 38+5 completely fine and a healthy 6lb 5.
Wishing you the best of luck

Thank you for the positive stories

Baby is measuring 4lb10 so quite tiny

xx

When my DD was born she was on 4th centile, she weighed in just over 5 pounds at 40 wks + 2 days. She was diddy, but now 8yrs later making hell of a noise on her trumpet. All turned out well. Good luck and keep positive.

I’m so sorry you have this worry. I don’t have any direct experience but just wanted to say my partner was 2.3lbs 30 years ago born at 6 months - he’s now 6ft 3 and very gorgeous! They can do such amazing things and it sounds like you’re being really well looked after.

Sending ❤️

Please keep us updated

Would they consider a planned c section instead of induction? I had one with my iugr prem baby and it went very smoothly.

Why are they thinking chromosomal abnormalities OP?

I was induced for the same reason. Baby was 5lbs at 39 weeks (0.9th centile). He's nearly 3 months now and 10lbs. He's absolutely fine. He had IUGR and placental insufficiency, but he's perfect.

All the best OP. More likely than not everything will be fine.

I was induced at 38 weeks due to concerns about growth in the late stages of pregnancy. Around 34 weeks I had been given steroid injections to help mature the baby's lungs in case of the need for an early delivery.
My son was IGUR and weighed 4lbs 1oz at birth. He struggled towards the end of the labour and needed an assisted delivery but we avoided an emergency section. He had a 2 week stay in the NICU due to sepsis and problems with his blood sugar/ sodium levels and then needed to establish feeding. As a previous poster has said, that has been one of the hardest things. I was advised by a Consultant to breastfeed for the benefit of my son because he would find it hard to tolerate and absorb formula but due to his size we really struggled and I have ended up using nipple shields for the last 4 months and it has been a real struggle but I have felt enormous pressure to continue. His weight gain is very slow (he's around 8lbs 8oz at 4 months) but his Consultant has been happy with his progress. He was tested for lots of things in the NICU to try and determine why he was so small (which I'm guessing is why they may have discussed potential chromosomal abnormalities to you) as my placenta had seemed to be functioning fine when they were monitoring it at the end of my pregnancy. Thankfully they never found a reason as such. We have had another on going scare when he had prolonged jaundice at 10 weeks and they suspected potential liver disease but he had lots of tests again and fingers crossed the problems he was having were just due to his size. We are still under Consultant Care and due a review soon. Apart from his size he is doing well and meeting developmental milestones. I had read everything there was online about SGA and IGUR in the early days and worried myself sick about his long term future and potential problems, it's only natural, but he is receiving good care and will hopefully catch up size-size at some point. Try not to worry, at this stage it will be very difficult to know what's going on. This is why they are suggesting early delivery to you so they can provide the best care and support for your baby. I am eternally thankful that due to my midwife referring me for a growth scan because she thought I was measuring big (95th centile) they picked up on his small size and were able to act, otherwise it could have been a different outcome which doesn't bear thinking about. One thing I have struggled with is that there are very few people that have been in the same situation (he's similar to pram babies but classed as term so doesn't really fit in that group) so advice and support is hard to come by. We've also been a bit isolated due to his size and avoidance of situations where he might catch an illness which could lead to re-hospitalusation (on the advice of medical staff). Now he's a bit bigger I hope to be a big braver and get out more with him.
Good luck and best wishes.

worried that sounds really hard. You have a lot of the issues of prematurity without the support. There is an iugr support group UK on FB.

Thanks, I'll look them up!