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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Does anyone else grow small babies?

45 replies

MrsCremuel · 22/07/2021 14:59

I am 5'8 and a size 14, husband 6'3 and a 'solid'.

My first son was born on the 11th centile and steadily grew up and up (exclusively breastfed so apparently couldn't be overfed!) and now at 2 is settled on the 90th.

I am pregnant again and baby is once again measuring 'small' - sub 10th centile like my first was before birth. Growth scans have just started at 28 weeks.

I think I grow small babies. I was a whopper at 9.10 and my husband around 8. I feel like my son was 'supposed' to be bigger as he has grown so much since birth.

Has anyone had a similar experience? I wonder if I don't eat well enough or maybe my placenta is sluggish? No real reason has ever been suggested.

OP posts:

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ricketybeauty · 25/07/2021 22:27

I’m wondering the opposite basically - mine was 11lb 7oz and I’m only 5,2 and (used to be!) tiny. She’s putting on weight but I feel like she’ll end up being petite.

eurochick · 25/07/2021 23:03

I had pretty serious issues with blood flow through the placenta. They were noted at the 20 week scan but the baby was around the 30th centile and they thought the issues might correct themselves. They went the other way and got much worse. I had a very unwanted c section at 34 weeks and she was 3lb6 on delivery - under the 0.4th line. Since a few weeks after birth she has clung to the 30 centile line consistently, so that is clearly her level and she just wasn't getting what she needed from me.

gogohm · 25/07/2021 23:09

Mine were both just over 6lb, as was I and my brothers. My DD's hope it runs in our family

imamule · 26/07/2021 00:34

They were concerned about blood flow for one of mine as I measured very small, slim but 5ft 9. DH big build & 6ft4. everything sorted by the end & baby was 9lbs & long. I weighed 7lbs at birth & DH was 10lbs. My best friend is 5ft & weighed 10.5lbs at birth so who knows.

caringcarer · 26/07/2021 01:20

OP you say your first child thrived after birth. Surely your second child will do so too. Be grateful you don't grow enormous babies that rip you to birth them.

milknapplayrepeat · 26/07/2021 08:02

I definitely do as well. DD1 was 5lbs when born at 38+1 and DD2 was 4lbs 7oz when born at 37+1. Was induced with both after growth scans showed them as small. Both now perfectly happy and healthy with no lasting effects, you’d never know they’d been born so teeny.

With me, they suspect it was IUGR due to gestational diabetes (undiagnosed first time). I remembered to ask after DD2 if the placenta was healthy and they said it was but that it was small. So I’m kind of like maybe my body makes small placentas and that means the babies end up small? I guess I’ll never know and I’m not having any more now so it’s a moot point, just grateful for the babes I have!

Wishing you all the best, OP! ❤️

FedNlanders · 26/07/2021 08:23

All 4 of mine were assumed to be under 5pb emergency growth scans etc.... all 4 were between 6lb 5 and 7lb 5 and all born early....so not that small. So much panic over it all too.

8dpwoah · 26/07/2021 11:05

@caringcarer

OP you say your first child thrived after birth. Surely your second child will do so too. Be grateful you don't grow enormous babies that rip you to birth them.

Wow.

8dpwoah · 26/07/2021 11:08

Sorry, my jaw has gone back up now. Tell my 6lb 10 that needed an episiotomy and still gave me a tear that I should be grateful that she wasn't massive so obviously couldn't cause me a problem when I 'birthed' (when TF did that become a verb?) her.
Have a look at your username and consider if that's compatible with posting on a thread for women worried about their medically small babies, @caringcarer

Ozanj · 26/07/2021 11:13

I think at your height there is definitely a problem they aren’t diagnosing. I am 5 ft 7 a size 14 and part Indian-Romany so a small baby wasn’t concerning to the consultant but was to me because (gut feeling due to my clotting disorder). I pushed for an induction and it was after DS heart failed during labour (he’s fine now) and they took my placenta away to investigate that they found multiple blood clots. This is despite the heparin and aspirin I was on. They called it invisible preclampsia & have recommended I take warfarin next time.

Ozanj · 26/07/2021 11:16

My baby wasn’t even that small - 30th centile at birth in terms of weight but over the 100th in height. In his baby photos he looks like a skeleton and we didn’t realise he had inherited my chubby cheeks until a few months ago when he reached 60th centile.

iloveicelollies · 26/07/2021 11:16

Yes. I'm 5 ft 3 and slim. Husband 5 ft 10 medium build. All 3 pregs had to have growth scans from 30 weeks. Daughter was 7lb 8 42 plus 2 so 7th centile. Son was 41 weeks 7lb 11 which was quite a low centile too and he basically stopped growing much at all in last 2 weeks in womb. 2 weeks ago had my 3rd by section at 37 weeks because he was basically not even on a centile line at 4 lb 13. No idea why babies so small. Doctors suggested could be just placenta abnormalities. I was 28 when had first, 31 when had second and now 39. I found the many extra scans comforting although it did feel more scary this time around as was referred to be under a consultant at small baby clinic and they seemed more concerned. All worked out fine though.

CandyLeBonBon · 26/07/2021 13:12

@caringcarer

OP you say your first child thrived after birth. Surely your second child will do so too. Be grateful you don't grow enormous babies that rip you to birth them.

What a horribly ignorant post. I'd suggest YOU should be grateful that your baby didn't lie across your ureter causing you have a tube inserted into your kidney (without anaesthetic), to drain into a wee bag strapped to your leg for 4 months of your pregnancy. That's what my small 5lb12 baby did to me. Snd yes he thrived, albeit with asd, but it was traumatic for me.

Women can and do tear regardless of size and your nasty, ignorant and judgemental post is utterly reprehensible.

SunbathingDragon · 26/07/2021 13:17

Yes, I grow small babies and it’s because of a reoccurring placenta issue. One of my babies died shortly after birth because of it.

Have you seen your consultant about it? The reason for it has never been found for me - healthy, non smoker, tall and no reason to have IUGR and placenta failure on repeated pregnancies.

Original poster

MrsCremuel · 27/07/2021 10:29

Thanks to all who have replied! I’ve been referred to a consultant now as a scan showed the baby is on the 8th centile so I am waiting for an appointment. The scan showed no obvious issues with fluid, blood flow or placenta so I am at a loss at the moment. Just the agonising wait now!

To answer a few questions - I don’t smoke, drink, stay within caffeine limits and eat a health diet (with added treats), I eat more than before but don’t over eat, I’ve gained about 1.5 stone so far.

@caringcarer it doesn’t always work like that re tears though does it? I had a long recovery with my first smaller sized baby after an episiotomy, tear and lots of internal tears and blood loss after a forceps delivery. Smaller babies also have increased risk of still birth and problems after birth so unfortunately, there is reason to worry. Perhaps try harder to live up to your username?

@SunbathingDragon I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. I must admit that these are the sorts of fears that I am trying not to let plague me at the moment. I didn’t see a consultant with my first as he stayed on the 10/11 centile, but am waiting for an appointment now.

Tip toeing the line between informing myself so I can make informed decisions and scaring myself senseless! Been hit with horrible nausea and gastro like stomach cramps this week which is making eating a chore - not helping!

OP posts:

iloveicelollies · 29/07/2021 19:29

@MrsCremuel when I was referred to consultant the care was second to none. Scans every two weeks, very thorough. Was told baby wasn't even on a centile, was below the line for the first and showing at 0.3 centile but when he was born he was actually a bit bigger than expected and on the 3rd. I was the same with good blood flow and water levels etc and it all went fine in the end. They just insisted on birth at 37 weeks and section

MissyB1 · 29/07/2021 19:39

Yes 3 small babies here, took aspirin with the 2nd and 3rd.
Ds 1 was 1lb 4oz, IUGR delivered at 30 weeks as placenta had stopped working.
Ds 2 4lb 5oz. I got to 37 weeks then bled heavily from placenta.
Ds 3 Was 6lb I got to dizzy heights of 38 weeks that time!

Superscientist · 30/07/2021 12:51

I was 6lb 4 at birth my mum was shouted out by the matron for having a small baby. My mum pointed out my dad was 2lb3 so she was quite happy with 6lb 4

HappyWipings · 30/07/2021 12:58

My three were all around 6-7 all born overdue too. All fine and feeding well after birth , no problems at all.

I've seen many a midwife freak out after a small measurement with their tape measure , when pregnant with my third I remember confidently saying that I just don't grow big babies. I attended 3 growth scans between 36-42 weeks last time around iirc. I'm short , I think there's just not room in there for a bigger baby.

Original poster

MrsCremuel · 30/07/2021 13:04

My first was small but only small for me. The personalised growth chart is crazy, he was 11th centile but 7lbs6 so I’m trying to keep these in mind with this second ‘small’ baby. My 6ft3 DH was 7lbs13 so not wildly different from DS1.

The midwife scared me senseless saying I needed to be extra vigilant with movement though. Another week until the scan and consultant appointment, feels like eternity!

OP posts:

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