Stressed about growth of baby, can anyone help?

[FTM23]

I’m 36 weeks pregnant, since 32 weeks I’ve been having growth scans every 2 weeks as baby has been measuring large! She’s consistently been measuring at least 2 weeks ahead on the scans I’ve had so far. Today I went for another growth scan but baby hasn’t grown since 34 weeks and has declined and moved down on the growth chart which has so far looked fine, I am so worried about this. They have booked me in for a week today to check fluid around baby etc as they said it looked normal today but I’m happy they are checking up on this. Today they said blood flow from cord and fluid looks fine but didn’t mention the placenta, could this be an issue? I don’t know if I am overthinking it but this is my first pregnancy and I don’t know what’s normal! I was prepared today to go and see she is growing fine or maybe a little bit bigger but I didn’t expect this and it’s completely thrown me off I know I’m going to stress for the next week sorry for the long rant, has anyone had any similar experiences?

Anyone?

Try not to worry. easier said than done I know!!

I got sent for a growth scan when I was PG as my bump seemed to grow enormously within a few weeks and then slow right the way down and not grow at all. I got my growth scan on new year’s eve and spent the next week worrying flat out until I went back for further scans to see what the score was.

Fast forward a few weeks I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes, not ideal but not absolutely awful either! I now have a healthy 5 month old.

I know it’s maybe not exactly the same as you, but I honestly spent a week crying my eyes out thinking there was something so so wrong and it honestly turned out fine!

Keep yourself busy. Don’t let your mind roam and jump to worst case scenarios!

Scans can be notoriously inaccurate. However, slowed growth means they'll monitor you a bit more closely. Worst case means an 'earlier' induction if it's clear that baby is better out than in.

One indication of how well the placenta is working is blood flow through the cord. So if that's ok, placenta is generally fine.

Hopefully you get more precise answers soon!

I was monitored really closely for growth,mine were the opposite, teeny.
Sounds like you're being kept a close eye on. Look after yourself, try to relax, and monitor baby movements carefully 🌸

I had regular growth scans with my Ds. He was measuring well over 100 percentile from 32 weeks. I had previously had a big baby so they kept a close eye on him. Every scan he would either go up or down on the prediction chart but everything else was healthy. In the end they booked me in for an induction at 39 weeks just incase he was too big to push out - he wasn't, he came out at 9lbs 3 around the 90th percentile - no where near the 11lbs he was predicted to be at one point.

I was told several times by the consultant that there is 10% variation in scan predictions so not to get to fixed on the number.

Please don't worry too much about the numbers. Let them monitor you and try and look after yourself X x

Oh thank you all so much for your replies I could cry!! I keep thinking I can’t wait to get her out so I can relax but that is when the real worrying will begin lol, @physicskate thank you for clearing that up re the placenta as that was a real worry

The earlier FGR manifests, the more challenging the outcome. So being picked up at 32 weeks is much better than at 20 weeks. A consultant specialised in this area recently told me that getting to 32 weeks gestation is a big win in particular for positive outcomes, as this is the point where all the properly important stuff in baby’s body has developed. The fact you are so very far along (36 weeks) is absolutely fantastic. Please hold onto that and enjoy the final days/weeks of pregnancy.

(I should add it is also perfectly possible for people with early diagnosed FGR to have good outcomes.)

@davidrosejumper

(I should add it is also perfectly possible for people with early diagnosed FGR to have good outcomes.)

Whilst all you said about FGR/IUGR is perfectly true, it doesn’t seem as if OP has been diagnosed with IUGR.

OP most trusts go 3 weeks between growth scans as anything closer is really hard to pick up any growth. How is baby’s position? I had a friend in a very similar situation baby had apparently dropped from 50th centile to 3rd from 34/36 weeks, baby was scanned again in a few days has it went all hands on deck and that scan placed him around 10th. Early delivery recommended at 38, born via section 6lb 10oz, around 50th for his gestation. He was breech so the scan wasn’t accurate.

It’s also worth while noting that growth even in utero isn’t perfectly linear, they do have growth spurts. When is your next scan?

My dd was 10th centile throughout and then dropped to 5th at 32 then 10th at 34 and then 5th at 36. Delivered at 37- small but perfectly healthy. Not iugr but just small. I’ve been there with the worry so I can totally relate to how you feel right now, try not to borrow worry, all will be fine

OP just checking to see how your appointment went. I'm also 36 weeks now and just had the same after midwife appointment.