33 weeks, growth scans & small bump

[America5]

Hey!

I had a growth scan at 32+5weeks where baby was measuring on the 10th percentile with a estimated fetal weight of 3lbs 9oz which is seen to be low for this stage of pregnancy. I have a Doppler study on Friday to check blood flow etc and then a further growth scan on the 12th. Will they measure baby again on Friday? As I'm interested to see how much she's grown over the week.

Has anyone else had this and what was your outcomes? As I've read lots about it and seen a lot of induction outcomes but would love to hear real experiences on here.

Thanks so much!

A worried mommy to be x

Not had a small baby (yet though I am currently on growth scans to monitor)... but I do know that they almost certainly won't do growth scans that close together. Basically because it isn't a long enough period to absorb the inaccuracies (measuring babies in utero is not an exact science no matter how precise it may seem).

There was some confusion with types of scan on my last pregnancy and consultant was quite cross that they'd done two growth scans so close together as it confuses the results and can cause unncessary anxiety. (Which it did and every other scan bubs tracked perfectly along the centile curve but that one threw the whole thing for a loop).

10th centile seems very low but as long as baby continues to track along there and doesnt drop considerably below (i.e. doesn't show signs of growth slowing) and doppler is okay then I imagine they'll keep baby cooking until term.

As PP said, they won’t do growth scans that close together. I recently had to go for one as my fundal height hasn’t increased. Baby size was fine but there is an issue with blood flow so I’ve been having twice weekly scans since. My next growth scan will be 2 weeks after the initial one so there has been enough time to compare. If growth is slow then they are going to look at inducing me early.

I've had it 3 times;

DC1. At 27/28 week midwife appointment she measured me as having no growth since last appointment. I was sent for growth scans which showed a steady and progressive growth around the 60th percentile. Born 40+3 a very healthy 8lb as predicted by scans for that gestation.

DC2. Measured very small throughout. Growth scans fortnightly from wk30. She followed her own little growth line albeit on the 9th percentile, but because she was growi g at a stead and constant rate, Consultant happy not to induce
Born 39+6 at 5lb 10again roughly in line with predicted weight. Very tiny but healthy. Still a very petite little one at 5 years old.

DC 3 (Currently pregnant, due date tomorrow!). Based on DC2 size and her being classed as 'low gestational weight' I was referred for growth scans automatically every fortnight from wk30. Have measured around 25th percentile line, but last 2 scans have shown a bit of a jump and this one is predicted to be just under 8lb at due date. I'll find out soon enough! I have another scan on Friday at 40+1 (if not here by then).

As others have said, they won't do growth scans that close together, or my hospital won't at least. I measured a little small at my midwife appt, was sent for a growth scan which was fine but there was an issue with cord blood flow. So I'm currently on weekly scans, alternating between doppler and growth+doppler.

@Nat4392 sounds like we're having the same issue, can I ask how many weeks you are? I'm 34, on my 4th week of scans but noone spoken to me about the possibility of induction yet (fully expecting them to if the cord PI doesn't drop though)

@Lovethatjourneyforme yes I’ve got the same issue. It was only picked up last Monday at 34+4 so tomorrow will be my 4th scan to check cord flow then I’ll have another growth scan on Monday. They’ve not said for sure I’ll be induced or anything, just that it may be an option if growth is lower than they’d like. My growth scan last week was good though and it was over 50th centile. My cord doppler readings have generally all been over 95th centile though.

@Nat4392 yeah we sound very similar, growth has been a steady 50th centile, doppler all around 95th or just over. Fingers crossed both of ours go down and growth stays stable 😊
I figured induction would be a possible outcome for me but I've had so little info about it, it's always just 'we'll see what happens at the next scan'. Only really know anything about it from googling.

Yes I had this. Induced at 37w and my daughter was 5lb 3oz perfect but tiny.

My baby was born by csection at 34w 3lb 8oz because he stopped growing due to placenta failure. Totally healthy just small, he was on the 2nd centile and now on the 9th.

Like you I was monitored, they will measure the baby. They decided it was too risky for baby to induce so I was kept in and had injections to boost his lunch's and he was here 2 days later.

Good luck tomorrow.

I had weekly growth scans every 2 weeks btw.

Also I meant lungs not lunches. I'm pregnant again and starving, food on the brain 😂

@Lovethatjourneyforme had my next scan today and all my readings are normal now. If my growth scan and readings are normal next week I’ll go back to low risk midwife lead which is great news. Although they said if growth is down they will induce me at 37 weeks which is next week! So very mixed bag!

@Nat4392 that's good news! Fingers crossed for good growth so you can go back to midwife led.
Had my latest scan this afternoon, mines gone the other way unfortunately. Baby was very active which prevented them from getting a good reading but they got 2 normal ones and 1 high (higher than before). So they've used the high one and I'm now up to twice weekly scans instead of once. I'm hoping it was just a blip and baby will be a bit more cooperative next time would really like to go down to midwife led again!

@Lovethatjourneyforme lots of movement is a good sign though! They keep telling me an active baby is a good sign baby is growing and not distressed.

@Nat4392 definitely! They've been very active lately and growth has been fine so I'm not super worried at the moment. That particular gymnastics session was just poorly timed 😂