Growth scan at 36 weeks, so worried 😞

[Sunshine1996]

Baby has measured only on the 10th centile the whole way through but she was growing each time they measured, after seeing my midwife today baby hasn’t grown at all since 2 weeks ago and I’m being referred for a scan 😞 she had a strong heartbeat but I’m still worrying. Has anyone else had a similar situation?

Is the idea that they haven't grown in 2 weeks based on the midwife measuring your bump with a tape measure? If so this is notoriously not hugely reliable - I also had a growth scan at 36 weeks as they "hadn't grown" in 2 weeks... Scan very quickly showed all was normal. Hopefully it's the same scenario for you x

I had exactly the same. Baby was induced at 37 weeks after several growth scans of very little growth. She was born 5 pounds 2. Shes absolutely fine and is now a happy and bubbly 4 months old. Try not to worry. At 36 to 37 weeks there absolutely fine and are ok to be born if needed. Hope that helps

You don't know that the baby hasn't grown, only that the midwife didn't detect a change in your fundal height. It's a very inaccurate method of checking size / growth (scans are only a bit more accurate).
Please don't worry prematurely. If they believe the baby isn't growing then they will suggest she is born early. Either way, you'll both be taken care of and you're very nearly at full term now.

Thank you so much for all your replies, that’s made me feel so much better knowing other people have had similar situations and healthy babies. And yeah it was using the tape measure. It’s hard as due to Covid I’ve seen a different midwife each time too! I suppose even if I am induced to have her here before Christmas would be lovely.

My fundal height decreased and my son was fine

A different midwife every time can even more make the measurement inaccurate. Don't worry op, think of the scan as another opportunity to see your lovely girl.
My aunts youngest was induced at 36 weeks due to restricted growth, he was a small baby at 5lbs6oz but very quickly caught up and is now very tall/healthy & clever

I had this with dd1 nearly 30 years ago I still remember the horrible feeling. Anyway she was born at 35 weeks just under 5lLBs a few days in hospital and we were let home, try and not worry too much and good luck with your scan.

I was in labour at 41 weeks abs midwife got in a panic that I was only measuring 36 weeks. Despite the week before I was measuring 40. The baby engages and drops lower and it's very normal for bump to change shape and 'shrink' in the days leading to giving birth. It really annoyed me as they must see it all the time

I had the same thing when pregnant with my DD, was induced at 37 weeks as she didn’t grow between 34-36 weeks. She was 5lb 15oz which was 8oz heavier than the scan thought and healthy. Didn’t need any extra help or time in hospital.

She’s now nearly 2 and above average height and weight!

Hope all goes well

Yeah fundal height is not great especially at such a late stage as baby moves and drops so could just be in a very different position to before changing the shape and size of your bump.

Realistically, you know the heartbeat is fine, so either you'll have the scan and they'll go 'ooh she hasn't grown much in the last few weeks) and you'll be induced, or they'll say that it's fine and you'll wait a few more weeks. Either way, you are virtually at term, so baby will be fine :-)

My baby had restricted growth which was detected through fundal height measurements and scans and it’s really good they are on the ball and pick these things up. They brought my little girl out at 37 weeks following my growth scan and she weighed 4lbs 13oz and was 0.2 centile. We had to stay in a week as she needed a little help with regulating her body temp and blood sugars but is now a lovely cuddly 3 month old. Try not to worry, you are in safe hands and they know what they are doing.

Mine was like that at the end. The mw looked at me and ask if I had noticed my bump dropping which I had. She said that would be it. He was born almost 9lbs.

Yes those measurements don't give you the full picture. I measured big and it was flagged up on notes and I had extra appointments. I had a real panic about giving birth to a giant baby but ended up with a perfectly normal 7 pound baby.

I've had a couple of growth scans now - they use them to assess the health of baby and it allows the doctors to take action in the unlikely event of a problem. Most recent academic evidence is that foetal growth is one of the best predictors of health in utero BUT the tape-measure method is very simplistic and often inaccurate (especially when done by different midwives): it's just a guide and midwives will always be risk-averse and refer for scanning to stay safe.
Enjoy the chance to see baby on a scan again!