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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Baby stopped growing at 38 weeks

34 replies

Jay185 · 27/06/2022 19:33

I'm 38+1 and had my 38 week midwife appointment today, with a different midwife as mine wasn't in.

When she measured my bump she said my baby had only grown by half a centimetre in 2 weeks, he was 36cm at 36 weeks and now is 36.5. I have been referred for a scan and am waiting to hear from them for my appointment date. I'm only 2 weeks away from my due date and wish the scan would be asap so I can know what's going on. Has this happened to anyone else? What was the outcome?

Thank you

OP posts:
Reallyreallyborednow · 27/06/2022 19:36

It’s probably due to the difference in measuring techniques between the two m/w.

keep a kick diary so you can monitor activity, it’s good that they’ve referred you for a scan to rule any issues out.

Jaaxe · 27/06/2022 20:14

Agree with pp! Two different midwives can measure differently. However I had to go for 2 growth scans in my previous pregnancy as I was falling short of the expected line on the chart and both times baby measured fine…she was born 7lb 11 at 39 weeks with no issues x

TheGriffle · 27/06/2022 20:17

It could be the midwife just measured in a different way to normal or baby might have moved into a different position. Don’t worry, it’s good you’ll be getting an extra scan though, always best to check. Just keep monitoring movements as a pp said.

Coffeaddict · 27/06/2022 20:20

This happened to me on my first at 36 weeks. Went for scan and baby was fine. Actually went over and had to be induced.

Different midwives may measure slightly differently. It's also a very crude measure of growth, at that point baby was sitting right on my stomach so couldn't eat therefore lost a bit of weight so bump was impacted.
Scans are far more accurate which is why they have sent you for one just to be sure.

wishuponastar1988 · 27/06/2022 20:29

Try not to worry. I had 2 midwives doing a routine appointment. One measured me 3 weeks ahead and the other measured me 1 week ahead but said that baby had not grown much in comparison to the last check up. Initially measured 97th centile and then went to 90th centile - had a growth scan the following day and baby was actually on the 55th centile and the sonographer said was measuring perfect. On a whole the bump measurements are very inaccurate!

Honaloulou · 27/06/2022 20:33

This happened to me. I got sent for a scan and it turned out that DD hadn't grown since my 36 week scan.

I had a C section later that day (she was breach as well, or I could have been induced)

she was fairly small at just 6lbs, but in every other way was perfect. She's now a 75th percentile 2 year old, and thriving in every way!

applecrumbler · 27/06/2022 20:40

Yes this happened to me but a bit earlier on. When the midwife measured my bump she said it was too small for my weeks and arranged a scan. At the scan I was then told I was having a big baby and should consider induction! Try not to worry, all these measurements are imperfect. My son turned up at 8lbs 6 at 41 weeks, so a completely unremarkable size.

turquoisebuttons · 27/06/2022 20:45

Measuring is so inaccurate and as others have said, can vary a lot depending who does it. I was referred for a scan because the consultant was concerned my bump was measuring small, the scan showed DD was on the 75th centile!

willithappen · 27/06/2022 20:52

Measuring is inaccurate even when scans are done so for just bump measurements it can be even more so!
I had regular growth scans due to IVF and my dd did actually halt growing, from 36 weeks - 38 weeks there was no growth (she was fine). I had Covid just before and suspected it might have played a part!
I was due to be induced 2 days before due date because of the lack of growth. Was also given sweeps to try get things naturally. Due date was 6th Jan and had a second sweep on 31st December which ultimately did cause my waters to break. Was a long labour and dd was born 3rd Jan, perfectly healthy and at 7.7lbs

tealandteal · 27/06/2022 20:56

My midwife sent me for a scan at 36, 38 and 40 weeks. She measured me as measuring ahead and the student midwife measured me as behind. Each scan measured the baby as following the curve and he was nearly exactly the weight the growth scan predicted. The scans came through within a couple of days of the referral by the midwife each time.

BlazingRufus · 27/06/2022 20:58

To echo Honaloulou, my breech boy abruptly stopped growing at 37w. The NHS told me he needed to get out ASAP and I got an ELCS at 38w. He come out about 5lb13 but struggled to feed, it was a bit of a journey till he was found to have inguinal hernias which were fixed in a day! Looking back though I wouldn't change a thing and at 3.5y he too is approaching 75th centile.

kagerou · 27/06/2022 21:00

My baby stopped growing in the last few weeks of pregnancy - they did extra scans to confirm that she had

Due to this they bought forward the birth (c-section) and delivered her at 37 weeks.

She was born small but healthy

They kept us in for 5 days to try to rule out any problems amd kept checks on her growth and development after but she's now 11 months and no cause for her lack of growth in the last few weeks was ever found.

I'm glad they played it safe and delivered her early but there seems to have been no underlying cause or after effects in her case. She's now an average weight and size

ButterflyGal · 27/06/2022 21:01

Measuring the bump is a very crude way of monitoring baby so most likely it is just two different midwives on different days. Scan is much better but still not perfect- especially for bigger babies for some reason.
I had a scan at 37 weeks as I was measuring a bit small and they thought baby was too small so induced me at 38 weeks. Turns out he’s just a bit small generally - on the 9th centile at 2yrs old.
some of us were just made on the smaller side!
hope you get your scan soon though. It’s horrid sitting there worrying.

kagerou · 27/06/2022 21:02

Mine was also breech as well like two PP on here so maybe that had something to do with it or maybe just coincidence

BurtLancasterIsOk · 27/06/2022 21:14

I wouldn’t be that reliant on a scan, one week the hospital said I was expecting a 7lb plus baby, the next week ( older mum) they said it was looking at 10lb size. Somehow that baby had grown by 3lbs in a week. I said it wasn’t possible.
i just didn’t believe it, and said it was due to being a different sonographer ( is that their correct name ?) on a different machine to all previous scans.
I was right, 7lb 3 baby, and smaller than my others.

It will be a change in the midwife measuring, a tape measure is hardly an exact science, nor are the scans.

Tothepoint99 · 27/06/2022 21:18

Could you get a private scan

D Day is so close now. Might help put your mind at ease?

MummyMcMumington · 27/06/2022 21:20

3rd baby, my bump measured 28 weeks from 28 weeks until delivery at 35 weeks. I was scanned every Tuesday and Friday for growth.

JLQ1020 · 27/06/2022 21:21

Happened me and it was because the baby dropped. Scan was fine and it was lovely to see the baby one last time before being born.
It's very common but midwives would rather be safe than sorry.

WalkingOnSonshine · 27/06/2022 21:24

Yep also happened to me with my first, new midwife and I’d told her he’d shifted position but her measurements looked like he’d not grown.

I got a phone call with scan details the next morning and scan was within 24 hours.

milawops · 27/06/2022 21:28

My first measured small at 32 weeks. I was scanned every week up until 38 weeks by which point she had stopped growing completely. She was still moving normally, strong heartbeat and the umbilical card was fine when they checked it but as my consultant said, any benefit of leaving her in longer was outweighed by the risk since she had been consistently dropping down the percentiles so the the day after that final scan I was induced. She was born weighing 6lb 4 with no issues.

Queenoftheashes · 27/06/2022 21:36

Happened to my SIL around 32 weeks and she was given steroids and a c section at 34 weeks after daily scanning. Stressful but all ok now.

sqirrelfriends · 27/06/2022 21:38

The same happened to me, it was because the baby had dropped.

Emmagr1 · 27/06/2022 21:40

I really wouldn't worry. Baby is considered full term now. If he/she has stopped growing ( which happened to me ) they will consider inducing you at 39 weeks , which I understand is under nice guidelines.

Easilystartled · 27/06/2022 21:58

Measurements from midwives are rarely accurate. I was sent for a scan at one point (can’t remember how many weeks, too long ago) as baby was measuring very large, scan showed her normal and she was born tiny (but perfect!) full term at 5.5lb! She was a tiny baby, an enormous toddler, an above average sized child and now a petite teen, fully grown at 5’4”.
So I guess I’m trying to just say don’t worry!

Original poster
Jay185 · 27/06/2022 22:04

Thank you everyone! Yeah I'm thinking and hoping like many on here suggested, it's just the change in midwife or my baby dropping which she did mention it could be down to as well. And yes if the scan does show any problems at least he's full term now so is all good to come out! Thank you xx

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