35 week growth scan - baby measuring too small. Any advice?

[Dipsydoodlenoodle]

Hi all,

I had growth scan at hospital on Wednesday (35 weeks exactly). Baby was measuring correct size, but with a weight of 5lbs. They were concerned that the babies weight is too small (for my height and weight etc) and is showing as being less than the 10 percentile.
When I was there they also tested my blood pressure; which was found to be a little high (Cut off is 140 / ?? and mine was a maximum of 146 / ??).

I’m back next week for more blood pressure monitoring and another growth scan 2 weeks after the first and then a face to face with the Doctor.

They have said that if baby is still small they will forcibly evict sooner than expected (it’ll be 37 weeks at the next scan). I can either be induced or C-section (was advised by the Drs and a friend that in this circumstance a C-section may be better).

Anyway, I have a telephone call with the doctor on Tuesday…can anyone think of any questions I should be asking? Or anything that I should be researching beforehand?

Also, has anyone else had a similar experience that they could share?

Thank you.

This happened to me with my daughter 2 years ago. I was induced as she had been consistently below the 10th centile since 25 weeks. My daughter was born at 37+4 and from having my waters broken she was born 2 hours later. I had a couple of pessarys first to get me going but no regular pains up to water being broken. She was 5lb 3oz and perfect in every way.

Babies typically put on half a pound a week in the last few weeks of pregnancy so by your due date baby would be at over 7lbs which is average size, or are there issues with your placenta that is stopping your baby from gaining weight?

My consultant wouldn't offer growth scans as (in her words) they often aren't correct when estimating weight in later gestation, despite her wanting to induce based on last babies size.

I had an emergency csection and, it's absolutely not something I would chose to have again unless an emergency arose. While others will have different experiences, I found it very difficult to do anything for baby.

Also with regards to your blood pressure being high, I'm very surprised they aren't bringing you in for more regular monitoring, could you get an at home monitor to check yourself? High bp is often one of the first signs of preeclampsia, so might be worth speaking with your midwife and requesting a few extra appointments if not.

I hope all goes well no matter what happens!!

This happened to me.
Midwife sent me for a scan as DD1 was measuring small at 36 weeks, had a scan and was told she is small but nothing to worry about. Midwife then sent me back at 39 weeks as again she was concerned about her still measuring on the small side for being term.
Got to hospital who refused to scan me as I had had a scan 3 weeks previously.
I was not happy but left and went home.
DD1 was born 6 days after due date weighing 6lb 4oz and was absolutely perfect. She was tiny.

I had this a few weeks back. Turns out the Dr doing the scan had no idea what she was doing , had a scan a week later with a sonographer the baby was fine, just average. My last scan at 36 weeks baby had packed on the pounds, consultant said that baby had just had their growth spurts a bit late

There is a special scan they can do to check if the placenta is still sufficiently supplying the baby. I forget the name but I had it done with some of them. There was a bit of assertiveness on.my side involved in accessing it.
Those scans are done in the fetal assessment centre as it is a specialised scanner.
Estimating a baby's weight from scans is not am exact science.
I am a bit confused why a section would be a better option at 37 weeks.
Induction is not pleasant but as least it is not major abdominal surgery.

My dd is 14 months now, born during Covid so appointments were slack. At 38 weeks I measured too small to they scanned me and took me straight in for an induction, the birth wasn't the best I'll be honest but I didn't care as I just wanted my baby out so I got feed her up. She she was born 5 days later and weighed 5.3lbs it was a worry being induced early but I'm glad as she was born safely and by her first weigh in 5 days later had put 11oz on, my placenta was knackered and I ended up in theatre to get it removed as it was in pieces, which all sounds a bit scary but it really wasn't and she is now a thriving 1 year old who has hit every milestone early and although she's still a little dot she's moved up considerably from the 2nd centile she was born at. Good luck 💓

Sorry you’re having this worry. Have they checked for pre eclampsia? And do they think baby is growth restricted, or just small for gestational age? It’s sometimes hard to tell the difference, but if you’ve had a previous scan since about 20 weeks then it can be compared, and also will be compared to the one in 2 weeks. Dopplers are needed as well - blood flow measurements in the umbilical cord and in the middle cerebral artery - which can give information about how the placenta is functioning and how the baby is coping. Generally, if you have a growth restricted baby and new onset high blood pressure then that gives a diagnosis of pre eclampsia and delivery would be recommended by 37-38 weeks. Usually no need for CS unless other indications. If the doctors have recommended CS it may be for example that they are worried about the doppler values, so I would ask exactly why they think you should have a CS. You should find that the doctor talks you through everything and is happy to answer any questions you have, and discuss the reasons for any recommendations they make. As a side note, the “customised” growth (adjusted for your height and weight) is more useful than just overall growth and gives more information about how baby is actually doing - comparing apples with apples as it were, so it doesn’t expect all women to grow the exact same size baby. If you’re taller/bigger than average, then you’d be expected to grow a bigger baby, and so your baby could show as

I was sent for a growth scan at every appointment I attended with DS2 starting at around 28 weeks I think. I had a very small bump and they told me he was going to be born quite small, confirmed on scans but told he was growing ok.

I had preeclampsia in both my pregnancies and was induced at nearly 40 weeks. Baby was 7lbs 10oz and is now 98th centile for height and weight at 13 months. Scans were off by about 2lbs.

Thanks everyone.

I've spoken to the Dr and got another growth scan next Tuesday - only then will we know the plan of action

Hi there,

I am 26 weeks pregnant.
At my 12 weeks scan I thought I was 12 weeks 2 days they measured him at 13 weeks 1 day. Since that he has pretty much measured around the dates I thought. But they are saying he's very small because they are going by the gestational age (scan date) should I be worried.

My growth scan at 35 weeks showed baby was measuring small they said around 5lb and at all other scans I had every two weeks he had measured bigger. They repeated my scan three days later and I had my son that same week they said he had to born by the end of that week due to risks and was an already high risk pregnancy.

He was actually 6lb6onz when born so not as tiny as they thought. But he’s healthy and don’t need NICU.