Baby growing small - advice please

[RC1985]

Hi, I went for a private scan today. I’m 27+6 and was told my baby is measuring small, under the 10th Centile. Was told to speak to midwife at next appointment and ask for NHS scan.

Weight is 2.1lbs, her head and thigh are about a week behind but abdominal measurement is 2.5 weeks behind.

I’m going out of my mind with worry. Only positive is placenta functioning normally and fluid levels normal.

Anyone else had this experience?

Hey 👋

My baby measured on the 17th centile, then the 10th, then 5.1, and has now settled around the 10th again. Her abdomen measures smaller than her head and femur.

I was referred to the centre for fetal care at around, where I've been going in for regular scans and Doppler readings since around 31 weeks.

Positive readings from the placenta and normal fluid levels are a good sign! Ask about being referred for extra scans and monitoring if you're concerned. I'm glad I did, even if going to the hospital all the time is very boring.

I've been induced at 35+5 weeks. So far all is going well. Hope you're okay! Some babies are just on the smaller side :)

Your baby may have IUGR or might just be a small baby. Speak to your midwife and arrange fortnightly growth and Doppler scans to check everything is ok. The fact the placenta is functioning normal and your fluid levels are ok is really reassuring.

Try to look at it from the point of view that now you know, your midwife and consultant will be aware and make sure you are monitored closely.

From tomorrow, as you’ll be 28 weeks, you can always go to the planned assessment unit for monitoring if you have any worries and just need some peace of mind but please do always go straight there if you have any reduced movements.

I’m 28 weeks and my baby is on the 3rd centile. We are having two weekly scans. Her HC is the main worry. Placenta all working okay, but I feel so stressed and worried. Sorry not to be of more help, but just to let you know you’re not alone!

I had this. They scanned me every 2 weeks as she was on the 10th centile, everything was fine with the placenta and blood flow. They then decided to induce me at 37 weeks because she had apparently got smaller. I was a wreck with worry, only to give birth to a 8lbs 6oz baby. I was livid but my vagina is eternally grateful she didn't get any bigger. Growth scans aren't always accurate and as long as the placenta, blood flow and movement are all normal I would try not to worry.

Thank you to all of you for responding. It’s good to know you’re not alone. At least I know now, I’ve been anxious throughout my pregnancy so this is just making it worse. Midwife appt Friday so will update you.

Scans upto this point have been fine.

@snowybean

Looking at measurements my babies AC is measuring smaller than head and femar although they are still small. Let us know how things go with you.

@2020BetterBeBetter sonographer did say she has limited info on me so I might be fine when I go for nhs scan (if I get one). Baby moves regularly at the moment which again is a good sign.

@Marmitepeanutbutterandhoney sounds like we’re similar. It’s so worrying, keep us updated on your progress and talk on here if you need to. It’s good to know we’re not alone.

@Oldmotherhubbardlivesinashoe love your username! Thanks for sharing your experience, it’s reassuring.

Hi! Don’t panic. My baby is measuring on the 3rd percentile. Very small and I’ve been having weekly scans since 28 weeks, had steroid injections at 33 weeks as they spotted an issue with my placenta and thought she may have to come in the next 7 days.

I’m now having my c section on Tuesday at 37+4. Super pleased we got this far and she is happy enough wriggling around in there.

Some people do measure small, other big and other average. There nothing to say that there is an issue. They thought initially that my baby was just small because I’m 5ft and DP 5ft4 so we’re not huge we was never going to have a huge baby.

There are lots of things they can do even if there are slight issues but I wouldn’t be overly concerned with being just under 10th centile.

I measured small for my second baby and was always measuring 3 weeks behind. I had fortnightly scans in the third trimester. She was born 8 days overdue and was 7lb2oz. Try not to worry x

My DGS1 was born on the 1st percentile and was just* 6lbs when he was born. DD hadn't had any extra scans and his size was a surprise, so he had bloods done at birth, incase he had any conditions (they didn't elaborate what they were checking for). As it is, everything came back fine and he was just tiny. He's now 15 months and is absolutely perfect! Just a dinky dot!!

I had IUGR with DD and didn't realise it can happen when you have a baby, if it's happened with you. As DGS1 is a SGA baby, she's having extra growth scans at the moment with DGS2 but so far he's growing well.

Good luck xo

A friend had baby measuring small all the way through . Even smaller than yours . A right song and dance was made by the doctors . The baby is absolutely fine healthy and absolutely gorgeous .

Thank you for all your comments and reassurance. It’s made me feel better. I just hope that when I mention to the MW about the private scan she takes me seriously and sends me for a growth scan on NHS. It’s better to be monitored than not.

I will update you all Friday when I see her.

Just to add to the reassuring experiences - my baby has been measuring small (various parts of her) throughout pregnancy. I live overseas so get a scan every month and increasing to every 2 weeks from 36 weeks.

Her femur was over 2 weeks behind at 22 weeks, her abdomen has been really small from 30 weeks and doctor was predicting a small baby. Now I'm almost at due date and had a scan yesterday - baby is suddenly average size! Her legs caught up and are quite long now, she still has a small abdomen though. I think it's just how she is.

Good luck and try not to worry too much. I didn't realise how worried I was until after I had the scan on Saturday and was told she was average sized.

Hi All, just wanted to update you on my visit to the midwife. I am being sent for a growth scan but only because my bump was also measuring small otherwise I think I would have had to fight for it, which annoys me a little as bump size isn’t as accurate as a scan.

Scan booked for Thursday as that’s the soonest they can get me in. MW did say to be very vigilant with movements and if anything changes even slightly to just go in so I bet I’ll have a hospital visit between now and then as I’m so paranoid. She also said as the placenta is working properly she’s not too worried and that if the NHS scan (which said will work on my height and weight) shows small, they will monitor me and probably induce me at term if she keeps growing, if she doesn’t they will likely get her out early. So I really hope she’s just a small healthy baby.

@SexlessBoulderBelly how did everything go on Tuesday?

@snowybean how did everything go for you?

@Marmitepeanutbutterandhoney how are you feeling today?

I am going a through similar thing at the moment. I had reduced movement at 28 weeks and was sent for a scan which showed baby growth at 6th centile, have had vigilant monitoring since then where his weight has been up and down, highest being on 33rd centile, on each scan the scan and umbilical cord etc have been ok. On today's growth scan he has measured on the 13th centile, they have decided he will not go any further then 37 weeks (2 and half weeks away).

I know its easier said than done and pretty rich coming from me as I arent exactly relaxed but try your best to remain calm and good luck for your scan !

Hi OP! All went well on Tuesday thank you for asking.

We got discharged today, with a very healthy but tiny (4pounds 8oz) baby, Mabel.

She’s perfect in every way and had absolutely no issues with being born early.

I’m still very sore but glad to be in the comfort of my own home now, I feel like we can start getting a routine together 🙈 even if it does last very long 😂

My eldest was 0.2 centile due to IUGR. I also had low fluid at 32 week growth scan and he’d stopped growing at all at 35 weeks (my placenta wasn’t doing it’s job and I had other problems as well although I didn’t know at that point. He was born at 35+4 and weighed 4lb3. He’s now a tall and healthy 6yr old.

Congratulations @SexlessBoulderBelly She's so cute, and I absolutely adore her name 💞 xo

@SexlessBoulderBelly awww she is gorgeous. I’m so glad everything went well for you. Yes it’s always better in the comfort of your own home.

@FebMama2Be I will be 29 weeks Monday, I tell you these next few months are going to be agonising! Will you be induced or are they doing a c-section? I’m trying really hard to relax but it’s so worrying as you know. The only good thing at the moment is her movements are active so that keeps me a little more relaxed. Although I did go in Tuesday as her movements weren’t normal, it’s hard to explain. Do keep us updated on how you’re getting in though.

Great to hear other positive outcomes too :) Also, does anyone know if my growth scan is fine, will they give me another one to ensure growth is still ok or do they just refer you back to midwife? Seen as measurements can go up and down, I’d hope I’d get at least another to ensure everything is going in the right direction.

@sexlessboulderbelly congratulations she is beautiful

@RC1985 it will be a c-section but I dont think that's due to his weight I think it's because he has been breech now for the past 6 weeks and they dont think he is going to move.
After my first scan I was passed onto a consultant, who has been the one to carry out every growth scan. If the weight of your baby is measuring small I imagine you would be offered a growth scan every 2 weeks to make sure everything is ok.