Growth scans

[RosieRabbit17]

Hi all I've posted here before about having low PAPP-A which means I need to have growth scans. The first one is coming up next week and was just wondering whether anyone had experience of these and could help me with what to expect?

For context: at my 20 week scan, they measured the blood flow to the uterus and found that this was okay on the right side but couldn't find the correct vessel on the left. However, she said I only needed one side to be good to start growth scans at 32 weeks instead of 28.

My worries are:

They've not been measuring me at all because I'm going to have the growth scans. 32 weeks seems late to first find there's a problem if there is one?

My first was born on the 11th centile (overdue too) so I think I make small babies anyway. Say this baby is below the 10th centile will this raise a concern when this could be natural anyway? Or will they look more at the pattern of growth?

Does anyone know if they will measure the blood flow again?

Sorry for all the questions - it's just so different from my first pregnancy!

So growth scans, in the absence of other risk factors (baby being small at 20 weeks, high BP etc) start at 32 weeks for low Papp a and or previously small baby (I had a small baby so my scans also start at 32 weeks). It’s not too late really because aside from monitoring there’s not a lot that can be done for a small baby. Are you taking aspirin for the low Papp a?

RCOG used to recommend induction at term (37 weeks) for all babies under the 10th centile but there is a new guideline that has replaced this called the saving babies pathway. I’d recommend a google if you’re interested. The long and short it is, they no longer recommend induction for babies below the 10th centile (between 3rd and 10th) who have normal dopplers (and an absence of other risk factors) as these babies are more likely to be ‘constitutionally small’ (ie small is just who they are). It’s now only babies under the 3rd centile they recommend for induction around 37/8 weeks.

At the growth scan they will measure baby, h/c, a/c and f/l to give efw, check the blood flow to the placenta (arterial dopplers) and maybe check fluid around baby.
Xx