2nd percentile at 21 weeks, has this happened to you?

[1sttimeexpatpapa]

Hi,
This is the first time I've written anything like this, but I'm getting to the end of my limits and need some help.

My girlfriend is 21 weeks pregnant, and we had a scan yesterday which shows the growth has slowed from 3rd percentile to 2nd percentile in 2 weeks.
We're going to the hospital on Monday (in 2 days) for a hospital scan.

Has anyone been through this and what are the chances my baby boy will be okay?

Thanks :)

Didn’t want to read and run. I’m sorry you’re going through this. I haven’t been through this personally but I do know how terribly stressful this can be, waiting for more information and not knowing.

It’s hard to really give too much insight, as there are a number of reasons baby can be small, and depending on the reason your baby may be fine, or may not be. He could be small because that’s just how he’s meant to be - fingers crossed that is the case. Even if that’s not the case things may still work out fine so don’t lose hope. The scan at the hospital should provide a lot more information for you - I assume you’re seeing a specialist after that to talk everything through. Good luck for tomorrow.

Not at 21 weeks, but at 30. Turned out to be pre eclampsia. Babys bones was ok length, but beyond thin. He was skin and bone at birth around 37 weeks.

He is 16 now and 5, 6 healthy and very clever. Still extremely thin!

The difference between the 3rd to the 2nd percentile is minuscule. I mean, at 21 weeks, probably millimetres.

I’m assuming that if you are having regular scans that there are other problems at play, but I wouldn’t have thought that the drop of 1 percentile point in itself would be a problem.

And remember that the 2nd percentile is completely normal, just as the 99th percentile is.

Ah didn’t really look at the 3rd to 2nd centile part of OP’s query - agree the drop there is not concerning. And it’s even a little reassuring, in that it shows that baby is continuing to grow in that 2 week interval. But would disagree w PP, in that anything

It might help you to feel more in control if you write down some questions to ask tomorrow.

Like what measurements are smaller? All of them? Or just tummy circumference. Will there be more growth scans later on etc.

I had this, baby was 1st percentile at 20 weeks, and it is a really scary thing to go through, when a baby is small so early.

In my case he had a rare problem with his umbilical cord. It was a very tense pregnancy and he needed a short NICU stay, but he's a perfectly healthy toddler now, albeit still on the shorter side.

I'm sorry, there's no way I can tell you your baby's chances, because it depends on the reason he's measuring small. It could be harmless, it could be serious. Hopefully you'll know at the hospital scan.

My thoughts are with you because I've been through this, and the waiting is so so hard. Just be kind to yourselves and each other, and I hope you get good news

thank you everyone for your comments. I appreciate it a lot.
we've had the scan, and now I'll start a new thread with a different topic, since we now know more about it.
Thanks

.