Positive growth scan stories (suspected small)

[MeadowHay]

Hi, I've been booked in for a growth scan for tomorrow due to my fundal height measurement showing baby to be small on my grow chart. I didn't really get to speak to my midwife as she left me a voicemail although I know my measurement was 26.5 at 29 weeks (am now 30 weeks). I don't actually have a copy of my growth chart so I don't know how small that's showing for me. I know fundal height measurements can be really inaccurate - this is my second pregnancy. In my first, my grow chart was showing my DD to be on the 90+ percentile based off fundal height measurements until 38 weeks when it didn't go up anymore. I was booked for a growth scan then too but I actually have birth before the appointment and she was just under 7lbs at birth in the end. However with this being so early in my pregnancy this time I'm really panicking that there might be issues with the baby.

Can anyone give me positive stories of being referred for growth scan due to baby being suspected small for gestational age and actually the baby was fine?

Hi. I was measured as being 3rd centile two midwife appts in a row but for some reason she didn't send me for a growth scan (her mistake). A consultant noticed it in my notes and sent me for an immediate growth scan - huge panic - and the baby was on 50th centile.

Has remained on 50th centile since!

Please try not to worry. Even if theyre small, it doesn't necessarily mean anything is wrong. Chances are it's just a dodgy measurement.

My second baby measured small from 28 weeks. Had numerous growth scans and he continued to measure small throughout with no obvious reason (blood flow good etc). My first was born on the 50th percentile.

He was born on the 9th percentile by planned c-section at 38+3 weeks. They brought him a little early because my consultant felt that as I was having a section anyway, he should be brought a little earlier.

He is absolutely perfect. He was and still is a bit small, but has gained weight well. He is now 5 weeks and doing great!

Its worrying but you will be monitored closely. Good luck with your scan!

Iv measured 3 weeks behind throughout my whole pregnancy but baby is actually on the 75th centile. I wouldn't worry. Good luck.

My fundal height measurement was below 3rd centile at 28 weeks. Baby was slightly over 50th on scan, measuring a few days ahead for the abdominal circumference which is the most important measurement. It's kept on the same line at 31 weeks.

Both my DCs measured small. I was induced with DC1 and required an EMCS due to failure to progress. She weighed 5lb 12oz and was on the 2nd centile but was perfect, had a bit of jaundice that needed treating but has grown into a healthy child with no issues. I was given regular growth scans with DC2 and I fed off the concern of the hospital iyswim and became quite worried. DC2 was delivered 3 weeks early via ELCS as they were so concerned about her but she is also perfectly fine, a total bruiser despite being on the 11th centile and weighing 5lb 11lb when she was born.

I'm pregnant with DC3 now and having regular scans again, this time we are on track so far but I understand what a worry it is. Hope your scan goes well.

Was sent for growth scan as first fundal height measurement was small...had a few more since then, and actually fundal height measurement is consistently on bottom percentile but bang on progression each time. Scans showed baby is between 50th and 90th percentile so after 3rd scan they've just said no need for anymore! still a few more weeks to go so no idea what he will be when arrives! good luck, hopefully everything be fine for you!

@MeadowHay I had the same thing at 28 weeks. He measured small, she phoned the hospital there and then to book the scan within 48 hours and I was slightly panicking. Was looking up all sorts on here thinking something was wrong with the placenta etc. Turned out to be completely fine and he was actually on the 50th line and not below the 10th line. He measured almost exactly on the line for every appointment after that. The girl doing the scan said his head was low and far back so it wasn’t causing him to stick out very much. Noticed a huge growth spurt in my bump after that

My baby was born on the 2nd centile and was delivered early at 34w. He's now 1 and on the 9th centile. Nothing wrong with them being small, all adults are different shapes and sizes same as babies.

They will just monitor you and if baby doesn't grow much they will deliver as soon as possible when it's safe.

Thanks everyone this is all really helping me.

I think I'm a bit in shock too because my bump is HUGE compared to my daughter's so I was convinced this baby was going to be much bigger! Now I'm thinking it's probs mostly just me and my larger weight gain then

With pregnancy #1 my bump was measuring "big" but DS was actually born on 9th centile (6lb5oz) @ 39w. He did have reduced blood flow through the placenta which they monitored for the last couple of weeks but he was resolutely healthy and no issues at birth or since.

Well I've now got a copy of my grow chart and majorly stressing again. The measurement plotted is well below the 5th centile which is the lowest line they have on it. So worried .

Fundal height measurements are notoriously unreliable. In my first pregnancy I was having routine growth scans due to my medical condition and so the midwives weren’t doing FH measurements at my appointments as they knew I was having growth scans anyway. Baby was measuring around 80-90th centile on ultrasound scans. However there was one midwife at my 28 week appointment I think who I hadn’t seen before and she didn’t check my notes properly so she went ahead and did the FH measurement and I measured off the charts I was so small. She referred me for an urgent growth scan even though I had had one a couple of weeks previously and was already booked in to have my next one the following week. She got it the same day because she was so worried. I went for the ultrasound and baby was still measuring on the 80+ centile!

Try not to worry. If previous growth has been good then that’s a positive sign.

I had a growth scan for DC2, I remember being very worried at the time. She was born at term, 5 lbs 11oz, and was always on a very low weight venture but normal for height. She’s 22 now, very slim but five foot five and perfectly healthy

Centile not venture

With my first my midwife and doctors told me to expect a small baby they said it would be 6lb at the most he was born full term n was 8lb 6. My 2nd baby I was huge they said I measured 4 weeks ahead all the way through sent me for growth scans and said this baby will be at least 9lb she was born at full term n was only 5lb 13 so it just shows how wrong they can be so try not to worry too much.

I was sent for growth scan around 28-32 weeks- can't quite remember now. My fundal height was measuring 2cm behind for a few weeks in a row. Anyway- had the scan, got an extra look at baby which was lovely and she looked a decent size. She was born just after 41wks measuring 7lb6oz. Fundal height is notoriously inaccurate. I am a tall woman- 5ft 11 (albeit not slim pre pregnancy) and wide of hip and my daughter seemed to enjoy lying horizontally much of the time so that's why I think my bump measured 'small' in final tri. I'm sure everything will be absolutely fine and enjoy the extra scan or two :)

I was scanned weekly with DD1 because my fundal height was consistently 5+ cm below expected. The scans showed she was growing but likely to be small and I was advised to give birth at the hospital (rather than home or mlu) in case she needed some support. Everyone was very surprised when she arrived at substantial 8lb3 (and 75th centile for length/height)! For dc2 and 3 I had a personalised chart which meant I wasnt scanned as frequently for low fundal height. All my babies have been a good size despite me measuring small- must have just been experts at tucking up very small! 🙂.

Thanks everyone - relieved to say I was worrying about nothing! My scan showed baby to be about where they would be expected to be, somewhere between the 10th and 50th centiles - and on track to be a similar birth weight to my DD. Although like DD also with a 97th percentile head circumference!! Which is a worry itself as she ended up being an instrumental delivery as I couldn't get her out eek! They made me another scan appt for 3 weeks time but I'm really reassured now.

@MeadowHay yes I wouldn't worry either. I measured 32cm at 35 weeks (had a growth scan where baby measured 50th percentile so all fine). Then measured 35cm at 39 weeks (another growth scan all fine). Baby was born a healthy weight and all fine. Fundal measurements are so innacurate I think and some babies are just smaller and there has to be some at the bottom of the percentile.

I was pulled into a room by a consultant after a scan and told my dd had a bigger head and a small abdomen and it was warning sign of growth problems. After that I had fortnightly scans that never showed any problems, and they admitted the initial concern was all within the expected margin for error anyway as ultrasound is very difficult to estimate size from. So it was all for nothing! But I did enjoy seeing Dd on the scan every fortnight!