Growth scan advice please

[MrsS89K]

Hi

I had my 34 week check up with the midwife on Friday, but my bump was only measuring 31/32 weeks (by tape measure). The last appointment I had at 31 weeks had measured perfectly.

I’m going in for a scan tomorrow to get a closer look at things. I know the bump measurements aren’t always accurate and sometimes the baby is ok when scanned, but just wondered if this had happened to anyone else and they were advised to deliver the baby? I have a problem with my womb which restricts growth, so I was already looking at a c section anyway. Now I’m wondering if its going to happen next week 🙊

I’ve had to have three extra scans in this pregnancy (I am 38 weeks) because he is measuring quite small, but each time they’ve reassured me that he is ok and growing so they are leaving him where he is. I think the bump measurement is pretty inexact so the scan will give you a better idea.

I did have a friend who was delivered early as her baby’s growth had slowed down a lot, they were monitoring from about 32 weeks and induced at 37. Baby was little but healthy and my friend was fine too. Hope all is well fit you tomorrow.

My daughter was having growth scans Got told baby was small talked about induction. She had him last week 8lb. Scans cannot accurately tell a baby’s size. It’s only a guide.

I had a private scan at 37 weeks because my midwife kept going on about how my bump was off the scale big.

The scan showed baby was around 7lbs and when she was born exactly one week later she was 6lbs13. The bump measurements are rubbish.

@HeyDiddleDee thanks for sharing, so glad your baby is growing well. Is your bump small? Mine is huge which is why I find it weird they’ve said I’m measuring 2/3 weeks behind!

@user1498572889 thanks for the reply, how many weeks was your daughter when she delivered? Hope they are both doing ok

@Phos I’ve heard stories where they say the baby is measuring big but then the baby isn’t necessarily that big when born! Wasn’t too sure about ‘small’ babies

My DD was dropping down the growth charts from my 20w scan - i had scans at 28w, 32w and 36w. She started off on the 50th centile and at the 36w scan was 9th. I was advised to induce at 39w but she made her own spontaneous entrance at 38w weighing 5lbs 12oz, so my scans were fairly accurate. I had been taking asprin throughout my pregnancy until 36w and developed gestational hypertension at 37w, which was suggested by one of the MW as potentially an underlying reason for her growth. However, my trust no longer does bump measuring because it isn't accurate so i would say try not to worry (easier said than done!) until you've had the scan.

DD is 8months now - after birth she dropped to 0.4th centile (for other reasons) and is now back to the 9th 🥳. The main issues relating to her size were that she had difficulty feeding initially and got very sleepy, so i had to be strict about waking her to feed until she was around 3-4months? But it doesn't seem to have affected her milestones in any way.

Usually bump measurements can be inaccurate so if they differ from what you should be you get sent for a growth scan, even for larger bumps! Scans are more accurate but can also be wrong by alot!

Unless baby hasn't grown and is massively behind chances are they will leave baby to cook for longer inside you- they will check blood flow through the cord as in my experience as long as that seems all okay they will do a follow up scan in a few weeks.

I measured 5 weeks behind on my bump measurements for my daughter but on scan she measured okay, on smaller side on charts but overall okay, she was born at 37 and half weeks at nearly 7lb, so not super tiny!!

@MrsS89K
She was 40+6. She wouldnt let them induce her as the scans showed that the placenta was working ok and the blood flow to the baby was ok. They just said he was small. They are both ok thanks. The midwife who delivered him was amazed she had so many scans.

Had my scan on Monday & it’s confirmed baby is growing 2/3 weeks behind, so the current plan of action is to go in for monitoring every few days and potentially have the baby if they aren’t happy at any of the monitoring sessions

Hospital bags are in the car 🤞🏼

Good luck OP. Everything will be fine and you will have a beautiful baby xx

Thank you so much @user1498572889 xx