33weeks with 2.9 percentile small baby, what are my options?

[tws]

I have recently had a scan at 32+6 weeks and baby is on 2.9 percentile. Anything under 3 percent is apparently worrying
I have since had 2 CTG monitoring and both times baby is happy and healthy - I am also having regular kicks as I have an active baby
I am waiting for a Fetal Medicine Scan to check check more thoroughly and check placental blood flow (CTG monitoring every 2 days until scan)

If there are no problems and baby is just small, can I just have regular monitoring and wait until baby is ready to birth naturally? rather than be induced
Has anyone else gone through this with any recommendations or info? Questions to ask etc
Thank you

I am being induced at 37 weeks as I'm 35 weeks and baby is on the 2nd centile. Iv been referred to fetal Medicine and am waiting to hear if they want to bring forward my induction. I was induced in my last pregnancy at 37+4 for the same reason and she was born on the 2nd centile 5lb 3oz and perfectly healthy.

@tws I'm currently 33 weeks also and baby measuring on 3rd centile. My last baby was also small but never got picked up. I'm currently having growth scans every two weeks and blood flow scans every week. They said as long as baby is following his curve and not dropping there ok with that. Think the plan was to get to 37 weeks and go from there to see if we need to change plans. Try not to worry it's good there going to monitor you more 🤞x

My son is 5 now, but when he was born, he was delivered by casearean at 33 weeks on the 0.4th percentile.

I had regular check ups by then because they noticed his growth started slowing and one day they saw that the blood flow to the placenta reversed and made me stay in hospital until the c- section.

Definitely wasn't ready for that and all turned out well in the end but ask about all possible scenarios and be prepared that it might not go to plan, but they still have your best interest at heart (at least thats how I felt).

No personal experience but presumably some babies have to be on that percentile, otherwise the stats are meaningless, but it doesn't necessarily indicate a problem? If the next scan shows no problems but they are considering an early delivery I would want to know their level of confidence in the accuracy of their measurements. It's scary but FMU are staffed by amazing people and you will both be well looked after.

My DD went between 1st and 2nd percentile. Born 5lb8 via CS, was in NICU due to a pneumothorax and then 5lb1 by discharge a week later. Now 3 months and she's 9lb7, so still around 2nd percentile, but strong and happy and seemingly healthy. She's long but very slim, so we're still in the 'Up to One Month' and 'Newborn' sizes.

My advice is to not let the regular scanning slip. Twice our bi-weekly scans were delayed because the doctor had forgotten to order the next scan after reviewing the last. I had to really fight (with the help of my midwife) to then get booked in. Our last scan was due to be held three weeks after the previous scan, due to the booking errors. In the end it happened just over two weeks after the previous scan as, having been admitted to triage with reduced movement, they decided to bring the scan forward. The last scan resulted in our DD being delivered early at 37+5 due to a falling measurement relating to the cord. I'm scared to think what would've happened to her if we'd waited another week for that last scan.

My other piece of advice is to not hesitate to go to triage if you have any movement changes at all. Don't wait days, half a day of different movements was enough to warrant a visit, particularly as she was so tiny and they really were lovely and took it very seriously.

Other things I can think of... latching a tiny baby was a struggle, so don't beat yourself up about it if it doesn't work.

Oh and Next 'First size' baby clothes were perfect, as well as prem clothes from 'Mummy and Theo's' and 'Babyprem'.

Good luck

Hi no advice really but I’m in a similar position. 32 weeks and my baby is under the 3rd centile. It got picked up at the 20 week scan so we’ve been under foetal medicine and placenta clinic. Having bi-weekly growth scans with Doppler scans in between to check placenta function. It’s been a really anxiety-filled few months but still on track to deliver at 36-37 weeks as long as his growth doesn’t slow down any more (we had got up to the 8th centile at about 24 weeks).