Small baby 36 weeks - anxious

[pixiedust21]

I'm currently 36+2 and have had a couple of growth scans so far - it was always planned for
me to have extra scans due to high BMI at the start of pregnancy.

At my 32 week scan baby was apparently measuring almost bang on 50th centile and everything looked fine.

Had 36 week scan on Tuesday this week and they said he has dropped to just under 10th centile and estimated he is only about 5lbs 2.

Apparently placenta, fluid levels and blood flow are all working fine and baby is well otherwise.

Spoke to a doctor after the scan who said they're happy to leave him for a further 2 weeks before scanning again. If he's dropped into a lower centile at that point they will induce, or if he's on the same trajectory as now and just still a bit small they will induce at 39 weeks.

I just feel a bit anxious about it all. I know the scans are not always 100% accurate based on stories I've heard. I obviously want to do what's best for baby but I'm anxious about being induced, and also (probably irrationally) upset because I feel like it's my fault. I've really struggled with food this whole pregnancy and have not been able to stomach a lot of things so I worry that it's lack of nutrients making him small - although to be fair he's been growing fine all the way through up to now?

Not sure what I am really asking to be honest, I guess just if anyone has been in a similar boat. Things have been smooth sailing throughout the pregnancy and I just want this last bit to go play and for baby (and me!) to be fine!

Thanks for reading x

The scans can only be so accurate, I had a growth scan 2 days before my LO spontaneously arrived and they said she was small but she weighed 7lb5oz.
All you can do is try your best to eat well, stay hydrated and get enough rest and I'm sure your LO will be just fine.
Apologies but I have no experience of being induced to help with that part of your question
Good luck with everything

This happened me, I am now 37 weeks. Had a growth scan at 35 weeks as I am consultant led, got the shock of my life as I was told the baby had stopped growing so was monitored 3 times a week. Had a scan last week again to check things, done by a different consultant and the growth had never slowed. Most recent scan on Wednesday past and everything is still fine. I was worried sick for over a week, so scans can be wrong!

Just to say things can change quite rapidly, a month ago I was being scanned for a second SGA baby, 10th centile again, induce at 37 or 49 weeks depending on the following scan. Well 3 weeks later and she's up at the 50th centile and the consultant has told me he's happy to discharge me back to midwife now at 38 weeks, induction at 41 weeks as normal if required.

I was gobsmacked. I've had loads of problems the last few weeks but all seem to have resolved themselves, I don't think any of us in the room today we're expecting it to pan out like this (I thought I'd be going in this weekend to be honest) but as he said there's no clinical indicator now for trying to go early.

You can't do anything to cause or help a small baby (other than the obvious like smoking), it just happens. My first WAS small but we didn't find out til 40 weeks as had textbook pregnancy to then. All the monitoring and issues I've had with this one who has been small throughout but is now completely average... It's just how it goes. I was all geared up for a second induction and now am a bit nervous about the plan changing. Loads of really good detailed threads on here about it lately, worth a look, but honestly I wasn't devastated to be facing another one, it's no fun but it does the job.

Be guided by your medical team but you never know how things will change, you couldn't have predicted the rollercoaster month we've just had!

Please don't blame yourself, both my DC were small with IUGR. Only found out toward the end with DC1 but was put on aspirin with DC2 and had regular growth scans. I echo pp that growth scans aren't entirely accurate either. They decided to deliver her just over three weeks early in the end via ELCS as they weren't happy with her growth and she also had reduced movement. She was 5lb 11oz in the end but is now a strapping three year old whirlwind. I think some babies are just small, the guidance of monitoring and charting the size of babies in utero had changed when I had DC1 to avoid complications so the weights of the baby had changed from a standard blanket weight for all babies, under the new system the baby's weight had to correlate in relation the mother's measurements if that makes sense? Someone more articulate might come along to unpick that but please try not to worry (easier said than done), it's not your fault at all and it's good that they are erring on the side of caution. Good luck with everything