32 weeks and baby not growing - any experience with steroids and early delivery?

[dumbledoresAhhhmy]

My DS1 was born early at 37 weeks, he weighed 4'9, and didn't need to go into neonatal. We found out that he was small when I was sent for an extra scan as my bump was measuring quite big (!), and then they tracked him for two weeks, found out he wasn't growing, so I was induced at 37 weeks. Little but perfectly healthy. They thought it was an issue with the placenta, and Doppler showed bad blood flow in the umbilical cord.

Currently pregnant with DS2, and having extra scans this time because of what happened with DS1. A month ago he measured just below 50th percentile, and today just below the 10th. I have another scan in two weeks which will make me 34 weeks. The consultant mentioned steroid tablets if he hasn't grown by then. Does anyone have experience of this? How long after steroid tablets are they likely to induce? NHS website states that there's a link between placenta issues and stillbirth. I'm feeling so very worried now. Heartbeat and Doppler and liquor were all fine today.

I had two children with IUGR

One was 32 weeks and weighed 1kg. One was 35 weeks and weighed 1.3 kgs

I had steroids for both. It’s like when you try to blow up a balloon. The first time is really hard. The subsequent times are easier. That’s what steroids do

I cant comment so much on the induction side as I had a c section due to him being breech but I did have steriods due to him being small.
From 28 weeks he was measuring small around the 10th centile at one point dropped to 6th centile. I had two steriod injections within 24 hours of each other, the first being 3 days before the section.

Scans arent overly accurate, I know your first was small but take it with a pinch of salt. We were told he was going to be small at one point they even talked about delivering at 34 weeks because of it but in the end he was delivered at 37 weeks and was 6lb 6, which I dont think is a bad weight for 3 weeks early.
Good luck !!

DS was delivered by csection at 33 weeks because of IUGR caused by the placenta starting to fail as a result of PE. I had steroid injections at 29 weeks (they thought they'd have to deliver at that point because my BP was so high) and then another lot at 32 weeks.

He was delivered by section because they anticipated that he'd be under 3lb and didn't think he survive such an early induction.

He was 3lb15ozs at birth. He didn't need much intervention for breathing but was in SCBU for a month. He's 6'3" now so has definitely caught up. 😊

It’s not a tablet. It’s an injection. Delivered 24 hours apart. They are for the lungs. The injections are a bit unpleasant.
Most babies at 32 weeks with steroids will do very very well. And should not require much breathing support, if any.
Under 35/36 weeks their suck reflex may not be well developed so they may need a little bit of tube feeding till they are taking breast or bottle.
You are right there is a link between growth and stillbirth and the same with reduced movement. It seems like you are being monitored very well indeed though and I wouldn’t worry.

And oh ideally steroids are given within a 72 hour window prior to birth. That’s when they are most effective.