Growth scan?

[Smurftastic]

Just got referred for an emergency growth scan- bump measures on the 10 centile but apparently it can happen when baby is lying transverse, so not too worried. However I just realised I have no idea about growth scans and didn't ask my midwife!

How long does it take? Do I attend on a full bladder? Are they going to see my placenta position as well? I had low lying placenta on 20 week scan, 28 weeks now.

Saw midwife today, scan tomorrow morning so no time to ask anyone else!

Exact same thing happened to me a few weeks ago at 28 weeks! Just below 10th centile. Turned out to be on the 50th centile and all was fine. He had his head down and far back so his head wasn’t making my bump stick out and so it was measuring small. It was a bit more brief than the previous detailed scans I’d had. I don’t think the bladder thing matters too much past a certain point. I went with a full bladder but was so bursting I went to the toilet before we went in. Also happen to have a low placenta 😂 had to have an internal scan at 20 weeks and she commented on my placenta still being low but didn’t do an internal scan or take a measurement because I knew I was having another scan at 32 weeks for the placenta.

They're not too long. They will check placenta as well as all babys measurements and position.
I have one booked for Monday, my letter says attend with a full bladder. I thought that wasn't too important when they are bigger though and don't think I did have full bladder for them in previous pregnancies.

Perhaps I should drink a little, but not the whole 1 pint they suggest for other scans, as it's just so uncomfortable!
@sarah13xx did you have your 32 week scan yet? I know most placentas do move but mine is also posterior so it's slightly less likely.

Yes it was just this week. Mine is posterior too, the scan where she just checked with the normal ultrasound but didn’t measure it was only a couple of weeks ago and she said it was still low. This week I had the normal one again and his head was in the way so needed an internal one again. It was originally 12mm I think away and needs to be 20mm? Well it’s now 40mm! I’m having a section anyway because I have a massive fear of birth so I wasn’t worrying about it resulting in a section but at least now it won’t be a high risk section. Hope yours goes well

Just wanted to update. I waited for an hour total for a 10 minute scan and a 5 minute midwife explaining the results. I had a little bit to drink but nobody mentioned it. All is well, baby measuring fine plus my placenta moved already at 28 weeks! I asked by how much and was just told it's 'miles away'. My 32 scan for placental position was cancelled

@Smurftastic oh that’s good news 😊 for some reason they didn’t really bother to measure it or anything at mine and just sent me for the 32 week one anyway. I think when you’ve been sent for a growth scan once, even if baby is totally normal size, there’s a higher chance you’ll be sent for one again because you just measure small so I’m preparing not to freak out next week if I’m sent for another one 🤣

@sarah13xx Frankly I'd feel a bit better if I knew what 'miles away' meant precisely but I guess it doesn't really matter. I had a small bump at the end of first pregnancy as well but it was just due to the bub's position. I checked and I'm measuring a whole month behind now! Baby is on 24th centile.

@Smurftastic did they not do an internal scan? I seem to have them every time it’s to do with the placenta. Yeah you’d rather know a measurement I think! 4cm for mine isn’t really a whole lot if you think how small 4cm is 🙈 24th centile isn’t bad though, as long as you stay on it I think? I had two weeks or something between scans and he seems to have stayed exactly on the line. Feel like my bump was tiny at 28 weeks but now feel like I’m going to burst 🤣

@sarah13xx No internal scans for me for some reason, I know they are more precise. Mind you they didn't do one at 20 week scan either, just marked me as 'low lying'. I can only guess that if they weren't sure how close it is they'd do one, it must have moved significantly. 4 cm is all they need though, plus it should move even more for you in the next few weeks. My first daughter was born on 20th centile for weight, she's now 75th for weight and 91/95 for height so I'm not worried about that