Baby measuring small

[pandaobsessed]

I had a midwife appointment yesterday, where she measured my bump (as routine) and found that baby is measuring on the bottom line of the graph, showing he's small for the 26 weeks I am.

I'm seeing the consultant anyway at 28 weeks due to preeclampsia and previous c-section where they will scan me. My 1st son was born four weeks early due to being small and the placenta not giving him enough.

Just wondering if it's a sign that it's happening again. Although I didn't know about my 1st son until 35 weeks.

Bump measurements are a pretty inexact science, I think. Mine has been measuring 3cm behind where it should be, so it's 31cm now I'm 34 weeks although it was 28cm at 28 weeks.

When they noticed this I got sent for a growth scan and following the scan they said while my bump was at the 10th centile, my baby was actually measuring around the 25th centile. The sonographer wasn't concerned and said it's probably just that the baby tends to curl up in a ball so my bump seems smaller than the baby is.

They can check blood flow through the placenta at the growth scans too so I'd have thought if there is a concern about your placenta they'd be able to check.

@89redballoons glad to hear they're not concerned about your little one. It can be so worrying can't it. Not long left until you meet him/her 💕

I don't think I'd think anything of it if I hadn't have had preeclampsia with my first. But like you said, they'll be doing all the checks they need to. Just have to wait another week or so 🙈

The bottom line of the graph which is the 10th centile, which isn’t classed as a small for gestational age baby. Underneath this would.
Even so, measurements are not to be used to estimate a baby’s weight/size but to be used to monitor the trend of the growth. They are not hugely accurate and massively subjective depending on who is measuring, the position of your baby, the position you are lying in etc etc.

Having had pre eclampsia before, then yes you are at a higher risk of this happening again but nothing is for definite. You will be closely monitored this time round.