Baby's growth stopped - worried!

[Nellie2710]

Wondering if anyone has any similar experiences so I can calm down as I'm feeling really stressed!

I had a midwife appointment yesterday and I measured small so I had a growth scan today. She's dropped from the 90th percentile to the 40th percentile and now I've been told I need to be induced on Sunday.

I'll be 38w6d then so it's not the end of the world, but I've just got home from the DAU and looked at my notes and baby's femur length has gone from 72% in first scan at 28 weeks, to 23% at 31 weeks and now 5% at 38 weeks.

I'm so worried there's something wrong now. Her other measurements have dropped too but not that much.

Anyone have a similar experience? Me and my husband are both quite small (5ft2 and 5ft6) so could that be why?

Babies are so stressful sometimes!

I don't know but I would imagine growth varies and is quicker in earlier stages? And more than likely slows down as pregnancy progresses, that seems to make logical sense. I've also read there's a 30% error rate with scans in late pregnancy, I think too much is put on them really.
I know of a girl who was induced as they said baby was too small, baby weighed almost 8lbs, the scan hadn't been accurate at all.
Is heartbeat strong? Placenta good? I think that's what I'd be focusing on.
So much stress is caused by scans and percentiles...

Thanks @Rowen32 heartbeat and movement all good, they didn't say anything about the placenta though but I assume that means it was fine!

I know, I've heard there's error rates too and normally I'm quite chilled about it all (she's been a bit all over the place with her measurements anyway), but for some reason I've spiralled this evening. Probably doesn't help that they told me I needed to be induced and that wasn't even an option in my head!

Looks like an IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction ) or static (no growth)

but induction is not your only option, you can also have a CS. They don’t mention it, but you can ask for it and have it.

I wouldn’t worry about one specific measurement, there is nothing wrong with the femur. My babies also measured smaller for femur than for other. It’s an indication of an overall issue like poor placental function.

your placenta is not working so well anymore. I had the same, no growth between 36 and 40 weeks (though the 38 scan showed some growth, it was wrong). Was induced, baby born at 2nd percentile, but all fine and she put on weight, reached 25th percentile in a few weeks.

that’s why they recommend induction, they can’t say how much worse and how fast your placenta is going to deteriorate, plus you’re at term.

you just need to decide if you want induction or CS.

It’s not that you’re small, if it was a small baby it would have kept a lower percentile from the start. Your baby is not growing at the same rate, your placenta is not providing the nutrients at the rate it should.

Btw my placental flow was good, placenta when birthed looked good too, I asked the midwife, but still it didn’t function properly.

And I had an indicator before it started to deteriorate (in my case from 28 weeks).

That was getting a low Papp A at the combined test I had at 12 weeks (lower than 0.5 mmol). Bc of that they classed me as high risk, had a consultant prescribe me daily baby aspirin and had extra growth scans. I assume you got the extra scans for the same reason or other risk?

you can read more here or search for more

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3984652/

I had this. My placenta had failed or was failing. By DS had dropped from 80 percentile to not even being on the chart at all. He is now 18 months old and HUGE!

Thanks everyone

I've been to the DAU again today for monitoring and baby is doing fine with her movements and her heart rate. Had a sweep as I've been having some braxton hicks and I lost my mucus plug this morning and I'm 2cm dilated so they are hoping I won't have to be induced, or if I am, it will be an easy induction as my body is already starting to get ready! Having bad back pains this afternoon but don't seem regular.

Thanks for all your advice. Midwife also said the femur length can be inaccurate and to not worry. She also said that because they couldn't measure her head that the overall decline in growth may be skewed and might not be as bad as they think. She's still within normal limits for her weight which is good (23rd percentile).

So ready for her to come into the world now so I can share some of this responsibility with my husband! It's an awful lot to carry on your shoulders and think about all the time!

Hi @Nellie2710 , I am a bit skeptical of later growth scans due to my experience with DD1. I had loads of growth scans in pregnancy due to diabetes. She was always pretty much bang on 50 percentile, then at 36 weeks suddenly she was measuring at 93 percentile with a head in 95 percentile. She was induced at 37 weeks and absolutely tiny! Less than 6 lbs.

Anyway. the point of my story is that these scans are not always accurate and don’t let it freak you out! I was not, as the scan would suggest, gestating a baby elephant.

Yours will be induced and it just means you will get those well deserved cuddles sooner!

Don’t panic! 38+6 is very much term, and her weight is still normal overall. My daughter’s femurs decreased scan by scan, went from the 30th to 20th to something like the 11th. I’ve heard that if baby isn’t getting enough nutrients then their body prioritises feeding the head and abdomen rather than the limbs (but you might want to check that with someone more knowledgable) so it’s often the limbs that slow down the most. Good luck, it will be fine! 💐