Growth Restriction - positive experiences

[BeachBunni]

I've just found out a couple of days ago that my baby is suffering from IUGR and only weighs 2+1/2lbs at 32 weeks. It's come as a huge shock and the stress of it all has had me in tears for days. I'm really trying to take it easy and stay positive (esp as it may be related to my bp) and was hoping someone on here may have some experience of babies with IUGR. This is my first and I was looking forward to having a little one and now I feel like I'm in a nightmare.

My dd1 was an IUGR baby. She weighed 4lbs 5oz when born by C-section at 38 weeks, so not absolutely tiny. She was in SCBU for 10 days - to start with on a glucose drip, then on naso-gastric tube and finally on normal feeds. She was absolutely fine, ate masses during the first 6 months and pretty much caught up. The only really obvious effect it's had on her is on her teeth - several of them are not formed properly.

I'm sorry you're feeling so worried and I totally understand how you feel. With me, they missed it until nearly 38 weeks so I didn't have long to worry before she was born. Have they told you what they plan to do or is it just to keep monitoring and scanning? I think there are a few other people on here with similar stories, so hopefully you will hear some other positive outcomes. Also, you do hear of quite a lot of people whose scans are not accurate and their babies turn out not to be so small as predicted.

Hi BeachBunni, I know how worrying this is. Ds2 was IUGR, he was delivered by planned cs at 37+5, weighing 4lb 15. He didn't need any extra care after birth, breastfed straight away and we were home from hospital 3 days later. He's now a bright, cheeky 20 month old, but still only weighs about 21lbs!!

Hope everything goes well for you - let us know how you get on.

Another IUGR baby here - well dd that is. Was 4 lbs 9 oz at 37 weeks. DD was spotted as early as my 20 week scan and she got to 37 weeks before she had to be delivered. This was possibly linked to pre-eclampsia although my bp didn't go up until 37 weeks.

I was induced which didn't work so had a c-sec. DD spent a couple of hours in SCBU getting her body temperature up but that was it. As with Bigwombat she spent 6 months catching up and now you wouldn't be able to tell - she's 2.8 and has had no developmental or health problems so far.

Take comfort from the fact they've picked it up - the real issues occur if it is NOT detected. They will monitor you a lot and scan you often until the growth stops and then you will need to deliver. They will do specialist scans to check the flow around the baby because this can show whether there is a problem (IIRC once the flow is concentrated up to the brain, this shows a problem as all the nutrients get directed to where they are needed most) They will let you get as far as possible but once they say you need to deliver it really is the best thing IME.

I have read that babies with IUGR are generally pretty tough. I won't say try not to worry because you will but just remember now they have spotted it they will do the best for you. Good luck !

Sorry no experience of this my self but a good friend of mine had a IUGR baby (4lb) 5 months ago and I can tell you now she's one of the most beautiful, bouncing, bonny babies I've ever seen She's had no problem in feeding and put on plenty of weight as soon as she was out. Just wanted to let you know that it's not necessarily all bad news. good luck.

Hi - is this your first? I had DS delivered a few weeks ago and there were concerns that he was suffering from IUGR. He arrived at 37 weeks weighing 5lbs 1oz. He was absolutely fine (apgar of 9 at 1 min, 10 at 5 mins) - the only additional care he had was for the colustrum to be topped up with formula before my milk came in to prevent any loss in weight/ drop in blood sugar levels. Docs also came to the conclusion that he hadnt been suffering from IUGR, but was a normally small baby for me - they dont expect any subsequent ones to follow the 'normal' growth charts.

Please dont worry - as other posters have said, it is a really good thing that this has been spotted at this stage. You will have additional monitoring and also be asked to monitor any changes in fetal movement. But aside from that - there is no need to be any less positive about your pregnancy. (oh and stop reading about IUGR on the internet - most of the stuff is extreme cases and you can see from here, all experiences have been positive)

Thank you everyone who replied - after a horrible couple of days of crying my eyes out I'm really trying to look on the bright side that at least they've picked the problem up.
Yes bigwombat - it seems that they plan to continue to monitor and scan and I've been told to get my hospital bag packed and expect the baby sooner rather than later. As my midwife said once my incubator fails, it's time to let the other incubator take over.
I suppose I'm scared because 2-3 lbs seems so tiny and I've been breaking my heart that I might have to leave the baby in the hospital and go home alone. I just want to be able to keep this baby inside for as long as I can.
It's been a real comfort hearing of other people who have had IUGR babies and they are ok with their health and feeding as I stupidly trawled the internet the other night and scared myself witless. Thank you again.

Beachbunni - glad you're feeling more positive. Prepare for a bit of an emotional roller coaster... I remember every scan I had I would spend a day or two crying/ worrying about the worst and then I would get on with things until the next time. Its very hard but just keep remembering every day forward is a day closer to the big 40 !

Am glad you have been prepared for having your bag ready early. I was never told to do this (I probably should have been able to read between the lines) and had only just finished work when I had to stay in after a scan. Poor DH had to go home with a list we'd manage to compile between us in the hospital ward and pack everything (luckily I had bought most things by this point). He turned up with bags and bags of stuff and a midwife commented she'd never seen anyone with so much stuff .

Just a little tip - Buy some little vests and sleepsuits. Maybe get a few sizes but keep in packs and keep receipts. I had only bought tiny baby size and dd was early baby size so I had to send someone out to buy early baby stuff. In hindsight I should have bought a few sizes and been prepared to take any back (I know some people like to wash baby clothes first but I didn't have a chance and dd was fine with out of the packet stuff !)