Growth scan

[Freeman94]

I've just had my 34 week antenatal appointment and was told I was measuring small and would need a growth scan
Has anyone had a growth scan and is it something I should be worried about?

DC3 measured small at 34 weeks, we had growth scans every 2 weeks and kept being told he would be small.. he was born 8 days overdue a very healthy 8lb10.
DC1&2 also had additional growth scans as they were measuring large for twins and I was told they were 7+lbs each at 36 weeks, they were born a week later at 5lb1 and 5lb9.

It's not super accurate.

I had gestational diabetes and had growth scans every 2 weeks. It was more a precaution. The waiting room was always full of women waiting for growth scans. 34 weeks is a good stage to have reached in your pregnancy. A little small at this stage is less worrying than if it was earlier in the pregnancy. Hopefully they will monitor you and all will be ok. Wishing you the very best xx

I just had one 2 weeks ago at 28 weeks. The midwife measured my bump at < 5th centile. The scan measured baby at between 60th and 65th centile. Apparently bump measurements can be notoriously off. Good to be cautious though and get baby checked to be on the safe side. Midwife asked me to be extra vigilant about checking baby's movements while waiting the 72 hours for the scan.

I measured small from around 30 weeks and had a growth scan around 34/35 weeks. Was told she would be a 6lb baby if born at term. She came one day late at 8lb 4oz.

I measured small with DS at about the same time and had a scan. The sonographer said he might just be little. He was born at 38+5 and was perfectly average size for his gestation, now he's 14mo and 98th percentile for everything! For a few months he was quite short but now he towers above other babies.

Good to go and be checked out, though. Hope it all goes well.

I had a growth scan at about that time for reduced movements. My bump has measured >95th percentile throughout pregnancy but growth scan put baby at bang on 50th. Still waiting to meet her and find out which was more accurate!

Hey try not to worry too much I know it’s easier said that done! My boy has been measuring slightly smaller all the way through. Legs & tummy If I remember. Anyway had 2 growth scans last at 38 weeks and was told by a grumpy consultant that he didn’t know why I was referred, they can’t always be accurate it’s like measuring something in the dark but baby looks to be growing just at his own rate so discharged me. Now 40+3 eager to see what he weighs! Xxx

My experience is exactly the same as Fortheloveofscience- every woman carries differently and the graph is just a guide. My DSis was the same with both her pregnancies, huge bump from early on and her two popped out at a completely average 7lb 2 and 7lb 5. Due to that and the scan I'm taking the bump measurements with a huge pinch of salt and trying not to scare myself.

They are usually just a precaution and you are likely to have a few booked in to measure progress, try not to worry. They are also not always very accurate.

I ended up having at least 5 growth scans op and every time it was a false alarm / the baby looked on track. Gave birth to a perfectly healthy 9 pound baby. Growth scans aren't always necessarily bad.

However in my area you're only allowed to give birth in MLU if you've not had any extra scans. Not sure if it's the same in your area and to be honest it didn't really matter to me in the end as I found the labour ward to be similar to the MLU! It's a silly rule if the scans are a false alarm imo but there you go!

Good luck with your scan