Will my baby need to go to the ICU?

[metsa]

I'm currently 34+5. I got concerned about my baby's movements on Wednesday so came in for monitoring. That was absolutely fine, and baby started to dance around during it so I was happy. The monitoring was followed up be a growth scan on Friday (yesterday) where it was found that baby hasn't grown since the previous scan at 32 weeks.
I've been admitted for steroid injections (GD and they can mess up blood sugar), and will be having Doppler's each week and monitoring 3 times a week. I'm currently looking like I'll be induced at 37 or 38 weeks.
My question is, will my baby need the ICU? Or will the steroids mean we avoid that? Her current weight is estimated at 4lbs.

My 37 weeker didn't in 1999. She was 5'10 so a little bigger than yours is expected to be. It really depends individually on how the baby is breathing, feeding etc. 37 weeks is regarded as full term though.

It's really worrying but if they do need to take them for a little bit the care is amazing and they encourage you to be there too.

There’s no way to know beforehand, sorry. Babies can be born at term and a healthy weight and need ICU. But try not to worry about it- the chances are in your favour and even if it is required, it’s likely to be for a short time 👍🏻

Thank you both

If there's a possibility that the baby might need to, ask if you can go and visit it. We had ours are 36 weeks weighing 4lb and although we didn't go straight there, he got admitted the following week. It's actually a lovely place and I got a lot of first time mum type help there are he was the only baby in at the time, but being told he was staying there and having to walk in with all the incubators around etc was a bit daunting at first.

Try not to panic though, baby will be where he needs to be and it doesn't make much difference to you where they're at, you can still cuddle/feed/change/do all the things you want to with them.

My babe had the same issue. Was also breech.
Had steriod injections (ouch) and they insisted a c sec at I think it was like36-37w?
I refused out of gut instinct of her movement. Had monitoring twice a week and extra scans
She grew a tiny bit but not a lot and was estimated to be about 4-5lbs when born.
Also had an ecv which I had to sign extra things for because she was so small.
Ended up with spontaneous labour at 39+4 to a perfectly healthy 6lbs 2oz and we went home the same day she was born (only stayed the day because of gbs issues and keeping an eye on her) she is now two and keeps me very busy!

I had GD with two of my pregnancies. First was born before induction at 36 weeks weighing 5lb 2oz, we went home same day on my insistence as we were both ok. Third dc born after induction at 38 weeks for tailing growth, weighed 4lb10 and went straight to neonatal. She was ok but lethargic, jaundiced and refused to feed. She was in a week for weight loss, and contracted an infection. Dc2 was no GD and straightforward delivery, all different. If you get to 37 weeks, you will be full term, 4lbs at 34 weeks is a good estimated weight too. The only thing I will say is that all mine were small babies, and the GD can and in my experience cause difficulties in feeding and you may want additional help or they may require it as blood sugar levels need to stabilise. I did express colostrum prior to all my births which was helpful especially with dc3.

Same thing happened with my DD. She ended up being induced at 38 weeks. She was 5lb 4. The said if she was 5lb 3 she would have been taken straight to NICU. So maybe it's different for different hospital.

Though you're lovely little one may grow yet. Good luck