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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

help! 33+5 weeks pregnant scan showed baby small...again!

18 replies

chops79 · 05/03/2008 10:47

33 weeks 5 days pregnant - worried as baby on 9.9th centile (too small).?
had a scan at 27 weeks as mw thought baby seemed small and they found her to be on the 10.6th centile for weight (babys abdo measurement smallest), i was rescaned at 32 weeks and baby had gone up to the 17th centile for weight, and measurements seemed to have caught up too. I was scanned again yesterday 34 weeks as babys movements have been less and baby has gone down to 9.9th centile for weight (all measurements other then femur length slightly low). baby is a girl this time had a boy nearly 8 years ago 7lb 2oz and he is now huge. im 5ft 7in and pre pregnancy weighed 8st and now weigh 10st 5lb at nearly 34 weeks... its worrying me like crazy has anyone else had the same happen?? please reply.x

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Kindersurpise · 05/03/2008 10:51

How was your first pregnancy? Were there any concerns about your DS?

I know that one of my friends was very worried about the birth as she had been told the baby was really big and when he arrived he was completely normal. My gynae told me that there is a rather large room for error on the scans.

Hopefully someone will be along shortly to give you more useful advice

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 05/03/2008 10:52

No real advice but this sort of thing really fecks me off.

Some babies just are smaller than others, that's a simple fact and it's annoying when women who are pregnant and have enough worries anyway are made to stress over it.

Same goes with all weight charts. For healthy babies they are unnecesary and the work of the devil IMO.

orangina · 05/03/2008 10:58

here

orangina · 05/03/2008 10:59

god, sorry, completely the wrong thread, ignore me

Original poster

chops79 · 05/03/2008 11:01

no problems with my first pregnancy regarding size so this is the first time i have come across this. but that was 8 years ago so i dont know weather or not the drs and midwifes are more aware now.x

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Kindersurpise · 05/03/2008 11:31

Don't really know if that is something to worry about, my docs never mentioned the centile thing.

Bump for someone in the know

Ecmo · 05/03/2008 11:40

both my girls were small and the consultants kept sending me for more sizing scans. I had about 4 or 5 if i remember. dd1 was 6lbs 9oz and dd2 was 7lb 7oz (not particularly small) never had any extra measurements for the boys.

wheelybug · 05/03/2008 12:14

Hi Chops

I had a baby with IUGR - although they didn't decide this until 37 weeks. From my 20 week scan I was scanned regularly as dd measured around the 3rd centile. DH and I are both small so they weren't sure if it was just that. Between 35 and 37 she didn't grow at all so they decided she was best off out !

As others say, it could just be a small baby - You obvioulsy don't weigh much so its very possible its genetic.

However, if there is an issue - it has been spotted and is being monitored. You are already into a relatively 'safe' period at 34 weeks and they will leave the baby inside until there is definitely a problem. DD was born at 37 weeks weighing 4 lbs 9 oz and although small had no problems whatsoever. She went to SCBU for a couple of hours to regulate her body temperature but that was after she had been with me for a few hours. She didn't get to grips with breastfeeding which was the only issue but she is an exceedingly healthy and bright (biased - moi ?) 3 year old who has caught up to probably her natural size (still smaller than average but only just and we would expect her to be as I am 5 ft and DH is 5 ft 6!).

Have they mentioned more scans ? I had specialist doppler scans which could trace the flow of blood around the baby to see where it was being directed. Apparently, if there is a growth problem the blood gets redirected up towards the brain/head as this is where it needs it most which is incredible ! This is why, if the abdominal circumference is smaller it could be an indication of an issue.

Its terribly worrying - I remember it well so I won't say try not to worry but I hope the above has assured you that if there is a problem its not too drastic.

Original poster

chops79 · 05/03/2008 12:25

Hi wheelybug,

Thank you for the reply, the hospital are having me in twice weekly to have CTG traces done (next one tomorrow), and i have another scan on the 17th March so in 2ish weeks. They have done dopplers on my past 3 scans and said they were fine so far. It is so worrying but you reply is very positive so thank you.

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wheelybug · 05/03/2008 12:42

Well it sounds like they are doing the best for you - keeping an eye on you but not interfering too much (however irritating it is to be up the hospital twice a week !). Just think by two weeks time and your next scan you'll be 36 weeks.

Just in case, I'd say be prepared mentally that you might have to go in early - and have your bag packed ! Despite all my scans I must have buried my head in the sand a bit and hadn't prepared myself for the fact that I went in for a scan and I can home with a baby. I had only just stopped working so hadn't packed my bags so poor DH had to go home with alist and try and cobble things together (he brought jsut about everything bar the kitchen sink ).

Good luck - let us know how you get on.

Original poster

chops79 · 05/03/2008 13:01

Thank you Wheelybug i will keep you posted with what happens its reaaly good to chat with someone who has been in a similar ish situation and understands the worry it causes. And bless your DH for doing all he could they have to do their bit at some point!!!! x

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damdaffs · 05/03/2008 13:09

Hi Chops

Try not to worry, i had the same thing happen to me with my first pregnancy, the midwife kept sending me up to the maternity hospital for scans and exams for the last 6 weeks or so. They said it would be a small baby about 6lbs, in the end she was 7lbs 4oz. Also my friend was told her baby would be huge, about 10lbs and it was born at 6lbs something!!!

I'm not sure about this measuring lark, i guess they have their reasons but i know so many people who have had their last few weeks of pregnancy spoilt by (as it turned out) unnecessary worry.

Original poster

chops79 · 06/03/2008 10:56

I just had another visit to hospital to check babys heartbeat (ctg), im back again on monday , midwife said they will watch me closely until they decide what to do with me!!! so i have no idea whats going on or what will happen as by the looks of things it is a wait and see thing again! god the worry it causes- just want everything to be ok.x thanks for your replys.

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wheelybug · 06/03/2008 13:46

Hi Chops - glad today went ok.

IME - they will be waiting to see if anything happens to show that the baby is in trouble - a dodgy trace, growth slowing right down - but if these are ok they won't interfere.

My dd never actually had a dodgy trace - I was on virtually round the clock trace for 3 days and nights in hospital because they were convinced she was going to go into stress but she was perfectly happy so they didn't rush anything and made sure they did their best to get her born naturally (well as natural as induction can be !). Alas it didn't work for me but I don't think my body was v. receptive to induction. I strongly suspect had things been 'normal' I would have been late as my Mum was with all 3 of us so at 37 weeks they said my body was just not ready to go into labour. So I think that aspect was peculiar to me rather than the IUGR.

Sketchi · 06/03/2008 21:24

I had a 5lb 4oz baby. Though I always measured correct for size. They thought I would have 7lb baby, even when DD popped out they said she looked like a 7lb baby, how wrong they can be, even when the baby is put in front of them!

Keep your chin up!

Original poster

chops79 · 07/03/2008 09:11

thanks again for the reply, wheelybug with my son i went into labour naturally but never got past 3cm dilated so they induced me to get things going (prostoglandin pessaries), i didnt respond to that so they broke my waters that worked but after hours of saying baby will be here soon they realised he wouldnt as he was getting into some difficulty- turns out he was trying to come face first so ended up with emergency c-section. i am back up hospital monday again for another ctg so fingers crossed that will be ok.. as you are well aware it is such a scary time constant prodding to get baby to move if she has been quiet etc etc. im glad that all turned out ok with you in the end that give out some hope to know that others have similar experiances and can give out advise!!! thank you x

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Original poster

chops79 · 07/03/2008 12:24

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chrissnow · 07/03/2008 12:41

I was sent for re-measuring (or whatever they call them!) scans with both my dds. Both were born just shy of 7lbs. So not big but not tiny. dd1 is now larger than average for her age and dd2 is a teeny little dot. Both are healthy and active.
Incidently I'm 5 foot size 8. DH is almost 6 foot BIG ice hockey player build. MW and scanners were probably quite confused as what babies were going to turn out like!!
hope all turns out well for you.

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