Any experiences with babies measuring small

[SpaceSharkTea]

Hi everyone,

Just looking for a little reassurance I guess from anyone who has had a baby who measured small.

I went for my 32 week scan today and baby only measured around the 28 week mark. I actually went in for reduced movements at 27+2 weeks and based on the graphs/figures from then to now the baby has only grown 6-8 days worth in 4 weeks.

I have an appointment with a specialist consultant on Tuesday morning for Doppler investigation/scans and they've said we will go from there but it looks like regular scans and perhaps an earlier planned delivery of growth continues to be slow.

I guess I'm just nervous that there could be something underlying or just looking for stories from anyone who's been in the same position

Hello! 👋🏻 So yes, lots of small baby experience here!

My first DD was flagged as small at a growth scan at 32 weeks. I had regular growth scans after that and she continued to grow but on the 2nd centile. Like you, I worried about underlying causes and the decision was made to induce at 37 weeks as they could “do more for baby out than in”. As it turned out, she was born weighing 5lbs but perfectly healthy! We were discharged the following day and she’s been fine since.

I’m now 32 weeks with second DD and have been under a consultant since day one due to my history of small baby. Lo and behold, same again! Had a scan today and she’s currently 3lb 2oz but growing steadily along the 3rd centile. This time, I’m in fetal well-being twice a week for monitoring on the CTG and a scan to check the cord blood flow/placenta. Also fortnightly growth scans. Interestingly, this time I’ve been diagnosed with gestational diabetes and a complication of GD can be small babies apparently. Who knew! Makes me wonder if I had it undiagnosed with DD1.

It’s a nervewracking time, I totally understand your situation. Just got to hope these babies continue to put on some timber and can stay in our bellies as long as poss!

@milknapplayrepeat thank you so much for your response! I was worrying that no one else would post on here and it was just me

Baby measured 3lb exactly today and I'm seeing the specialist on Tuesday. From what I've heard today I think at 37 weeks they will make a decision to get baby out if still small. I just hate the fact it's something out of my control and nothing I can do to help baby grow. Let's hope these both these babies stay in and grow grow grow!

@SpaceSharkTea Ah glad I’ve helped! You’ve hit the nail on the head with the thing about control - SO know what you mean. There’s nothing you can eat or take or do, really. It seems to be just one of those things.

If it helps at all, my experience of being induced at 37 weeks was a positive one. I only needed one pessary, waters broke on their own 24 hours later and she was born that night. Straightforward vaginal birth, no instruments or anything. Most importantly, she was absolutely fine and just dinky! Still is to this day, even now she’s 3!

There’s a part of me that’s disappointed I’m going through the same again this time around... but oh well! Nice to know, in a weird way, that there’s someone out there at the same stage as me going through similar though! We got this! 💪🏻

One of my 4 DCs measured very small. it was really stressful - we went in for the 20 week scan and all was cheery and chatty, then suddenly the sonographer went really silent and I could feel something was wrong. It turned out his femurs were measuring many weeks behind, we had extra doctors to see and lots of extra scans, and cried so many tears... But he turned out just fine. He was born at 39 weeks and just short of 6lbs (this was out of the UK, talking to doctors here, they would have likely induced him early on the NHS) but was in perfect health, and still is many years later. He's still small for his age, but very healthy. They never did work out why he was so small, he and I were in good health and my others are average size, as are DH and I.

Hope you also have a good outcome too. It is so stressful when they're doing all the tests, but it just means you're getting good care, and they'll always err on the side of caution. Do make sure you look after yourself and take it easy as you can, you're doing a great job.