Very small baby IUGR

[secretangel]

I could cry. I've hard a tough pregnancy with stress. I'm over 40, been so sick and have chronic high Bp.

Had my first growth scan today as was always planned. My baby is measuring under the 5th centile at 29 weeks.

I have to have scans now weekly and 2 every other week and I've been referred to a city hospital. I'm so sad and worried.

Any similar experiences, good or bad so I can get my head around it.

Thank you x

Mine was not IUGR but measured small at a scan to check my previously low-lying placenta at 30 weeks. I had fortnightly scans after that and was induced at 37 weeks. My DS was 5lb8oz at birth and required no additional care. He was skinny but filled out in a couple of months and has followed around the 25th percentile ever since; he's now 3.

It's great they are monitoring closely and from my experience the obstetricians have a low tolerance for babies struggling to gain weight- so your baby is in good hands.

I agree that it's great I have good care. It's just been an awful time as we were also told 1 in 2 risk for Downs, that came back clear.

It's a very lonely place to be in your head when you're doing everything you can for that life growing inside you and those around you just don't seem to be affected.

I had preeclampsia with both pregnancies and very small babies. Born at 32 and 31 weeks respectively, by emergency Caesarian and 2lb 6oz and 2lb 5oz. Thank God I didn't have twins! It was terrifying at the time and I had post natal depression as a result. BUT they are now 6 foot plus young men; healthy, funny, annoying, clever. Love them to bits.
Sending 💐 to you OP, hoping your LO will be fine too.

Dd was born at 29 weeks, 980g, severe IUGR. She is now 8, perfectly wonderful (massive character) but still tiny. In fact, she's on growth hormone and slowly catching up.

The growth scans are a good thing. I was having them anyway as I'm diabetic. What I would say, is get your hospital bag packed early just in case. If they do decide to deliver early, I was told IUGR babies often do very well and are usually well developmentally, just small

Estimate weight is 908g at 29 weeks and femur length is 4 cm

Gosh, that is small!
Have they given you any other information and what to expect? I was given regular scans (I can't remember special name) of the blood flow through the umbilical cord too. The decision to deliver her was made very quickly. Everything was fine 2 weeks previously at scan, then an issue with placenta was flagged by a private 4D scan and the following few days she was delivered. But. This wasn't down to her being small. This was my placenta not doing its job (and probably the cause of why she was so small iyswim).
Huge hug and good luck. As you can see from this thread, there are lots of positive stories with iugr babies

Yeh I’m having growth scans baby was on 10th at 28 weeks and dropped to 5th at 30 weeks.. he’s picked up again now and is showing above the 10th so feeling much better. I’ve read that growth scans are notoriously wrong and I think guessing from the scans I’ve had in this pregnancy it depends who’s scanning you..
my last baby was tiny born at 5lb 10oz and I’m on 150mg aspirin.
It’s hard not to worry but try not to if you can. It’s good they are monitoring you. When is your next scan?
Have you got a consultant you can speak with? Despite my 30 scan revealing very little growth my consultant went into more depth with me and showed me the different graphs for the different things they measure and said he had no concerns.. but they will keep me on close watch just to make sure the baby is growing as some people just grow small babies xxxxxx

1st baby 36 week birth weighing 5lbs 4oz due to IUGR.
Induction as I had pre eclampsia too.

Second baby similar.

Anyhoo, baby number 1 who I could hold in one hand as he was so teeny tiny is almost 6 feet tall with his head permanently wedged in the fridge taking driving lessons.

So big picture, all things considered, no impact whatsoever.
IME, all was well.

My DD was born at 41+3 weighing 5 lbs 11 (less than 2nd percentile) , due to undiagnosed IUGR and (also undiagnosed) preeclampsia. She is a joyful , healthy 2 year old now, consistently tracking the 25th percentile for weight.

So sorry you are going though this awful stress OP but the good news is that you are getting proper monitoring and support. They’ll be monitoring so closely and any serious concerns they’ll be able to act really quick and get baby out ❤️

My first baby was 3.7kg so big but that was 19 years ago when I was a whipped snapper. My last was 6lb 6 and perfect- all very tall and robust now as other say. I'm really healthy and active, I just feel so bad like my body is letting baby and partner down. Baby is super active though.

My next scan is Friday so a week from my last one. Then every Friday with appointment with fetal medicine in between. I don't mind small size I just want baby to be ok 😢

And yes that is what they are scanning for, the blood flow through the placenta. And it's good they are. They said the bigger hospital will check blood flow to the brain too.

Just to add to my post my first baby who was 5lb 10 at 39+4 is also a bouncing 20 month really tall and a chunky monkey! He absolutely guzzled his milk to begin with and is a decent eater.
I really feel for you as I was so worried this time round whereas I was none the wiser last time. Keep us posted on how you’re getting on. I have my next scan in 2 weeks when I’ll be 34 weeks.. hoping for a bit of a growth spurt 🤞🏻 x xx

DS1 born at 40+3, 6lbs, undiagnosed IUGR such that he had extremely low blood sugar (not picked up on!) and he had a stroke aged 2 days. Born on 2nd centile and dropped to the 0.4th at one point. He grew like a weed and was over 98th in height and weight at one point (I spent bloody hours breastfeeding him! And now he eats everything and anything). He’s now aged 5, and at recent school weigh in 91st centile on weight and height, smart, healthy and active (if not amazing at sport 😂 no idea if this is a result of the stroke or not but I wouldn’t say he is abnormally bad!) and clever. He’s definitely my DH’s build who was 10lb at birth! Never did find out why he didn’t grow properly - put down to just one of those things.
DS2 I had more monitoring and appointments and they decided he was huge at every scan, told me he’d be over 10lb at term, scans were never too far out etc…. He was perfectly average at 7lb 12 at 38+3, and has remained around average now at almost 3! I actually found the fact he stayed on roughly the same centile a little odd after DS1!
Don’t worry too much about the scans, they can be wrong, and I know several small babies who are all doing really well now 😀

I'll keep you posted and pop back...thank you so much everyone ❤️

Just updating, I've got appointments for twice weekly scans and Fetal medicine early next week. It doesn't feel like she is growing, my bump is tiny but she is super active. They've plotted her weight below the 2nd centile :( femur length below the 5th. I'm so worried and sad.

@secretangel

Just updating, I've got appointments for twice weekly scans and Fetal medicine early next week. It doesn't feel like she is growing, my bump is tiny but she is super active. They've plotted her weight below the 2nd centile :( femur length below the 5th. I'm so worried and sad.

So sorry to hear this OP. If she’s active that’s a good sign. How far along are you now? Worst case I imagine they will want you to deliver. Which is so hard, but she is going to be ok ❤️❤️❤️

I'm almost 30 weeks now which is good

I've had 2 very small babies.
My first was born at 33 weeks and was 1330g and my second was 36/37 weeks (not entirely sure) weighing 2350g. So both quote small.
They are 5 and 1 now and although they are small they are both happy and healthy.
I had loads of scans with my second and it showed failing growth from 26 weeks and static growth from 34 weeks.
I hope your next scan goes well but try to remember that 29 weekers do very well in the nicu now and every day makes a huge diffrence.
You are doing everything you can and its amazing.

30 weeks is great ❤️❤️

Just a quick update.

Baby is now under the first centile and I'm having twice weekly Dopplers. Blood tests have confirmed pre eclampsia. They have managed to finally get BP under control after being admitted a week ago. I was admitted to hospital but home now to go back 3 x a week, blood flow to baby ok, blood flow to placenta terrible.

31 weeks. I will need c section just don't know when but this is torture. Really hell. I feel so crap from all the BP medication.

Had steroids and been told I won't be able to labour naturally

I'm sorry to hear that, it sounds very distressing. At least they're looking after you and they'll keep you and baby safe. C-sections aren't too bad. Try to look after yourself and look forward to your baby arriving.

Sorry you are going through this, my DD has just had a similar experience to you.

Happy news, my grandson is now 12 weeks old- 4 weeks corrected and doing well for a 4 week old with severe IUGR.

Good luck and stay strong, the newborn stage is exaggerated by prematurity and IUGR.
Accept all help offered so you can sleep

Thank you x

I'm glad to hear that your grandson is doing well too.