Small baby and possible placenta issues...how likely to happen again?

[Colinthedog]

I am currently 16 weeks pregnant with my second baby, and my midwife has just told me I need extra scans this time round (at 30 and 36 weeks) This is because my DS was under 7 pounds, which she said is very small for my weight and height. I’ve always worried about this to be honest as I expected him to be much bigger, although he gained weight quickly and is now a healthy 3 year old.

I had some reduced movement a few times in my last pregnancy, and when I was getting an episode checked out at 38 weeks at the EPU they measured me and told me my bump hadn’t grown. They did a scan and said baby was fine and was already 7 pounds 5, but when he was born (on his due date) he was obviously a lot smaller.

My midwife said today this could have been due to a problem with my placenta that went undetected. I’m already quite anxious this pregnancy as ive had some early brown spotting and have just generally felt uneasy, so I now feel even more anxious! Has anyone had experience of this, and was it a problem in future pregnancies? I found tracking movements very stressful last time, especially with a few episodes of reduced movement, so I’m not sure how I’m going to cope this time. And I’m only just in my second trimester so such a long way to go!

Any advice or reassuring stories anyone could provide would be very much appreciated.

I think that your midwife could have been a bit more tactful and considerate about how you would worry when she spoke to you but referring you for extra scans is definitely the right thing to do. Are you also going to be under a consultant?

I’d advise getting checked out as you normally would with any reduced movements or concerns and try to view the extra scans as a nice way to check in on how your baby is doing and whilst they might not be accurate, they are the best way to keep monitoring your baby. The scans don’t just look at size and estimate that, but they will also look at the blood flow and check to see if any problems show with the placenta.

DC2 was small and I had to have extra growth scans but I’m now pregnant with DC4 who is showing to be 90th centile for weight. So it’s not automatic that one small baby means another one will also be small.

Thank you for such a quick reply. She didn’t say anything about a consultant, just the extra scans. And she knows I am feeling anxious so I agree she could have worded it better! You’re right about the extra scans being a bonus, I’ll try to see them as a positive. I think it’s the tracking of the movements that I find the most stressful, I worried about it a lot in my last pregnancy even though I was low risk, and I feel like I’ll worry even more this time. I haven’t even felt baby yet and I already feel anxious!

I'm having extra growth scans with this pregnancy as my DD was smaller than expected. Consultant said to me that most likely DD was just small and nothing wrong caused it but they just need to keep more of an eye on this one just incase.

Similar boat to you today :-/ went into to triage as I feel baby movement pattern has changed and is less active since last night. They monitored for half hour and were happy with the heartbeat etc but have booked me in for a growth scan for Thursday. Feel quite panicked about it but I guess there’s not a lot I can do until Thursday apart from keep monitoring movement. They said it could be the anterior placenta but it’s making me anxious since I’ve felt so much movement up until now. At 30 + 2 :( hope you’re ok OP

That sounds stressful snoopy, glad you have a scan booked soon to check it out and hopefully put your mind at rest.

At my 12 week scan they mentioned an anterior placenta, although I’m surprised they could tell that early? But I think that will just add to the stress this time if it’s true, unfortunately.

Not sure if this is at all relevant to you but there is a thing called Papp-A it’s to do with your placenta and a lie Papp a can suggest things aren’t working at 100%. It’s not routinely looked for in tests but my hospital does check for it and my score was quite low so I was asked to join part of a research group for Tommy’s and getting extra scans because of an increased risk in early birth and or low birth weight that can be caused due to this low Papp A (it does stand for something but I can’t remember what) Maybe it’s something you could ask about?

Try to ignore her manner but listen to the substance. Extra monitoring is good. I don’t actually know if it’s likely to happen again. My first was 5lb 11 (2nd percentile) at 39 weeks. Worrisome scans and reduced movements meant that DC2 came at 35 weeks at 5lb3 (50th percentile for that gestation). And DC3 was 5lb 14 at 37wks (2nd percentile for full term). In all 3 there were signs from scans that placenta was not working properly, and with DC2&3 this was seen to deteriorate between the last two scans as well as growth stopping. FWIW although the 2nd and 3rd pregnancies were very stressful, I had excellent care. DC1 was very tired at first but all ok. DC2 has a short stint in nicu then scbu due to breathing problems and as a precaution against necrotising enterocolitis, and has been fine ever since. DC3 has been fine. All were 50th percentile for height at birth, just skinny. All have caught up by 3 months.

My first was classed as SGA (small for gestational age) he was born at almost 42 weeks and was 6lb11, plots on 4th centile on my personal growth chart. They mentioned after his birth his placenta was on the small side and looked abit gritty but that was possibly due to being overdue.

I had DC2 2.4yr later and got nothing extra, or nothing was mentioned. Luckily he was born at 40 weeks weighing 8lb15.5oz and was on the 84th centile.

I didn’t get any extra scans booked in until the policy changed and I was pregnant with DC4 and it was just one extra at 36 weeks. Which I unfortunately didn’t get to as I went in labour prematurely before then.

Now, I’m having DC6 and they have booked in extra scans at 28,32,36 and 40 weeks due to my first being SGA. All my other childrens weights were ok for their gestation.

All 3Dc have been SGA (small gestational age). Dc1 was 5lb2oz at 36+2, dc2 was 5lb at 38+2 and dc3 was 4lb10oz at 38 wks. I was having additional growth scans with dc3, measured small from 28weeks but growth. At 36wks assured all was ok despite scans indicating little growth since 34wks. Placenta blood seemed ok etc. During a midwife check prior to consultant appointment she became concerned and sent for immediate scan which indicated no growth so booked for induction immediately and continued monitoring. Born small, few problems but ok. Currently pregnant with dc4 and have had to battle for my concerns to be heard regarding baby's size. I haven't had much reduced movement only a pattern of SGA babies whose sizes decline each pregnancy. Extra scans are good and will give you reassurance and keep an eye on baby. Midwife could of been more tactful but personally I wish my midwife actually showed some concerns.

Thank you to everyone for your responses, I really appreciate them all. They really bring home the fact that I have no way of predicting whether there will be a problem. I think this is why I find pregnancy such an anxious time, it’s the lack of knowing and lack of control. But I realise nothing I do will change the outcome, I just need to try to relax!