Worried about IUGR, baby dropped down percentiles

[lsav2912]

Hi, I’m worried about my baby’s growth. He was on the 6th percentile at 24 weeks, then stayed roughly on the 23rd percentile for my 28 and 31 week scans, but now he’s dropped to between the 3rd and 10th percentile on my 33 week scan. He has put on 219g between 31 and 33 weeks. Is this worrying? All looked fine with my Doppler scan and I have another this Thursday but I’m so worried they’re going to find something’s wrong with my placenta and that his growth has dropped even more. My OH is trying to reassure me but I’m worried that baby’s growth is tailing off now instead of just being in the lower percentiles. Will I likely have weekly growth scans? I want an elective section but have no idea when I’m likely to give birth either until Thursday. Does anyone have a similar experience or can tell me what to expect? Thank you ❤️

Hi, do not panic. Babies can sometimes be small and reduce growth for many reasons. One main reason can be with placenta, hence you have dopplers done. These can be done weekly, growth scans 2 weekly, as within a week not enough time to see difference in growth. As long as your baby is growing along the last centile and plancental function normal u will most likely carry on till 37 weeks then they will aim to deliver you. Your baby is on smaller side, which for some can just be normal, other times could be placental issues. I assume u are otherwise low risk and healthy, non smoker, no blood pressure issues? Best way for you to know your baby’s well being is through its movements, if pattern has changed or movements reduced at any time go in to your hospital for monitoring.
remember scans are still 20% inaccurate and if this is UK, then 50% of small babies go undetected desperate growth charts and scans. So at least they have picked it up and doing the right things. Whether you deliver via CS or have induction that is your choice. As difficult as it is don’t stress, all seems under control. Your baby isn’t IUGR it small for gestational age.

I had a growth scan, then another 2 weeks later where he'd not grown at all in the two weeks. Was sent for the doppler scan thing to check the placenta, had monitoring, was talk of early induction, all very worrying, then at the next scan he'd grown a good amount and his growth was never mentioned again! I was induced at 37 weeks but that was because I went and got pre eclampsia and he weighed 6lb6 and is perfectly healthy.

@Ariel8 he has situs inversus so all his abdominal organs are all switched over as a mirror image in the wrong place. It’s linked to heart issues but we’ve had 2 ECGs at fetal med and everything looks fine, baby will have tests after being born to confirm no heart issues and he might have issues feeding. So I’ve been high risk. No other issues with me etc though.

thank you both, it’s so horrible waiting for each appointment.