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

I’ve been in your shoes, my little girl was born 5lb at 37 weeks she measured the 5th centile all the way through.

Have a look at the savings baby pathway, it’s clinical guidance for the management and delivery of small babies. Your doctors will do everything in their power to help you get to term (or close to term as safely possible).

If you have fb there is a group called iugr support group uk, really recommend it.

I found the journey so lonely as I’d never known anyone go through it before and all my family just blamed me, finding other people that had gone through it and come out the other side was tremendous for my mental health. It’s ok to grieve the stress free pregnancy experience you’re missing out on and the same with the labour and delivery that you wanted, but it will be ok, these iugr babies are amazing and incredibly strong. After birth you might get a lot of ‘oh they are so tiny’ or pressure from health visitors for them to grow but they don’t really understand iugr. 90% of sga children ‘catch up’ within 2 years, so your little one won’t always be small and one day you’ll look back with awe at the all of things they overcame, I promise xx

I know it’s hard advice to take but please don’t worry. My baby constantly measured small with fundal height and I had several extra scans because of reduced movements.

She was born 6lb 8oz a few days before 40 weeks. She has since dropped from 25th to 5th centile and is now 5 months.

She is so happy though. She is loving solids and she drinks plenty (formula so we know she’s having heaps).

I just remind myself some people are smaller than others. My husband and I are both slim and were small babies. Is that something you and your partner can relate to?

The problem is my placenta is full of lakes and the cords are full of notches, blood test confirm pre eclampsia and my kidney function is becoming abnormal. I feel so guilty to my partner and all be can do is worry about me.

So it seems like I am just waiting for something bad to happen

I completely agree about the grief. It's not so bad as this is not my first pregnancy. But I have to grieve the excitement, labour etc. I am being so well looked after I really am and so is my baby.