Growth Scan - different issues

[Infertilitylife]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if anyone could give me some insight into what was found on my growth scan yesterday at just over 28 weeks please?

I did see the consultant and have some basic information but it was rushed as they were running behind.

thank you

What specific information did you want to know? What did your consultant say? X

Do you have any further appointments with the consultant?

The consultant said he is worried about the growth of the baby as he doesn’t seem to be growing as he was. He made the comment that if the baby stays on the 8th centile, he will deliver him at 36 weeks but if he drops off that and becomes lower he wants him out earlier. I suppose I’m just panicking about this as seems way too early. I do also know that there was excess fluid but I’ve not been given any information about this.

I do now have scans/consultant appointments every 2 weeks so at least I am being monitored.

They wouldn’t deliver baby early without good reason. Babies whose growth slows down are at an increased risk of stillbirth compared to babies who are growing normally, but this risk has been found to be reduced by very close monitoring of babies identified as not growing as well as normal and early delivery of baby if the risk gets too much. It looks like they hadn’t got any serious concerns yet about umbilical blood flow which is good and amniotic fluid borderline high. Hopefully things looking more positive on the next scan

P.s. most babies delivered only a few weeks early are fine and home within a week or so

Just to reassure you, most babies showing the same findings as yours, everything turns out absolutely fine x

It sounds like they’re taking really good care of you and baby and that there’s a good plan already in place X

@Clariee45 Thank you so much for replying. I think it’s the not really knowing what’s happening which is the worst part. But I know they’ll only do what’s in his best interests. Hopefully on the next scan he will have grown.

@Malificent1 I really cannot fault the care they are giving me in terms of monitoring etc xx

I can imagine it feels so worrying when you don’t know how much of a a concern it actually is. I work in healthcare and years ago we would have babies born on the smaller side and not think too much of it and usually everything was fine but with more recent research and the push to reduce stillbirths we now do much more monitoring to try and detect any baby who might be growing a bit slower, closely monitor those babies and having a lower threshold for delivering early so that level of monitoring and intervention is very common these days. The vast majority of babies would of been absolutely fine anyway with no monitoring or intervention but to reduce the risks as much as possible any baby who is below the 10th centile or whose rate of growth is slower than expected between scans will flag up for increased monitoring. However I’ve known babies whose growth has been on a much lower centile plus sometimes also had concerns about the blood flow (dopplers) and needing weekly scans. Sometimes there’s such an improvement at the next scan they end up being able to leave baby till nearly term and occasionally things have worsened and they decide to admit to hospital to keep an even closer eye on baby. Obviously no pregnancy is guaranteed a happy ending but in every case I’ve come across so far 🙏 where they have been concerned about the growth, everything has been absolutely fine in the end. Obviously they’ve probably already told you to keep mindful if any reduction in baby’s movements and contact them so they can just check all fine xx

Big hand hold from a mum who had a baby that just stopped growing somewhere around 25+ weeks (found out at 32 weeks when we had a scan that it was placental insufficiency). It was all ok and at 1 he is finally growing like a weed. The best advice I was given repeatedly was to go to all your scans, all your checkups, all the monitoring they offer. Rest, exercise lightly, eat and treat your body like a temple. It is a truly scary time, I've been there. It also feels really frustrating, as you're a giant incubator, waiting for checkups, with no control over what is happening. One thing to note is that the measurements are quite often inaccurate (usually around 20% off). Our doctor said that until he had 3 scans done and there was an average, to take it all with a pinch of salt. Even 2 days before our c section, the scan noted 4 lbs 5 oz and in reality he was 5lbs 1oz two days later. Obviously, whatever the doctors tell you is the advice for you and your situation, but 37 weeks is usually the "real safe zone cutoff". Our DD was a premie at 35.5 weeks, and our mini guy was 36+6w. Our premie went to the NICU for 3 weeks, vs our 37 week baby, who despite being tiny, came straight home. That extra time inside really does make a huge impact on their lung development etc, and we had steroid injections to prep the lungs for both children due to complications. My non medical advice is to keep your baby in you as long as possible while the doctors say it is safe to do so. Hoping that it is all ok, and is just a weird bad measurement that comes to nothing x

@Clariee45 @madeleine85
Thank you both. I’m trying to stay positive and hope that baby stays put as long as possible and as long as he’s growing/gaining weight. I’m really interested to see how much weight he has put on at my next scan.

I’m Definitely being really vigilant over his movements but luckily he doesn’t seem to keep still much at all 😂xxx

Keeping fingers crossed for good news on your next scan xxx I did my final visit recently to a baby where mum had been rushed in for urgent delivery a few weeks before her due date due to him stopping growing and he’s doing superb now, absolutely lovely little baby. Do let us know how you get on xx

Thank you for being so reassuring, it really has helped. I’ll definitely update when I know more xxx

Just an update - I had a scan two weeks ago and the baby had gone from the 8th centile to the 13th centile. The consultant at the time said as long as he continues to grow at this rate they would look to deliver around 37 weeks.

I then had an additional scan today and the baby has again gone back down to the 8th centile. I then saw another consultant and she said it is ok the baby is small as my last baby was (I've never been pregnant before - this is my long awaited baby conceived through IVF) and I have no other issues (I have high blood pressure which isn't being controlled.) She said she will leave me to go until 39 weeks.

So now I feel really worried and don't know what to do. They were running 2 hours behind and I was in the room for 3 minutes.

I'm sorry that you are getting so much conflicting information.

It always seems to be that way when you get a lot of ultrasounds in pregnancy.

We can be pretty certain that the measurements taken with the ultrasound are estimates, they be off but 10%-ish in the late third trimester. They are mostly guessing.

What I usually tell my clients (I'm a midwife in the States) is that what is most important is that you understand the risks and benefits if the estimates are accurate and if your baby's heart rate is 10% lower or higher. Then you ask any other questions you want answered.

Then pair that information with what you feel. Are you in touch at all with your intuition (much different from what your anxious mind is saying). You often have to lower your worrying in order to get in touch with it. Other than the worrying, do you truly feel like there is anything wrong?

Also, I think that induction of labor is a major plan change and regardless of how many clients they have to see, it deserves much more time spent than 3 minutes. Reach out to them, request/demand time be spent on a proper consultation following the ultrasound.

The best thing that you can do in your pregnancy is protect your mind and reduce stress. I recommend being intentional about doing so in practical ways every. single. day. I'd say start today by reaching out to get more information from the maternal fetal medicine doctor who read your ultrasound.

@OnthePathwaytoPeace Thank you for replying :) I am generally not an anxious person and don't really worry about much. I think what isn't helping is the fact that I have seen 5 different consultants now and every single one has given conflicting information.

I have now reached out to my initial consultant and I am hoping to have a telephone call with them tomorrow to discuss things properly.

Yea. Thats totally understandable. Hopefully that consultation will get you all on the same page.

It's so stressful isn't it! I had this with my 2nd baby. We had growth scans every 2 weeks but because of the margins of error, sometimes the size was on the 5th centile, sometimes on the 15th so we never really knew what was going on. Baby's movement and heart rate were normal. Fluid, blood flow and placenta were all fine. Was so hard not knowing any cause or whether there was even a problem or not. Of course you think the worst. They waited until 38weeks to induce me and she was perfectly healthy and on the 9th centile. Made me feel that if we had waited another couple of weeks then she wouldn't have been a small baby after all.

Op why is your high blood pressure not being controlled ? If I was you I'd be seeking a second opinion and asking to speak to another consultant

@losingthe I am on labetalol and it was working to start with but over the past few weeks my blood pressure has once again been up and down. Some days it’s ok, others it’s sky high but they’re not sure why. I have requested a phone call with my initial consultant so will see what they say.

@Raggeo You are definitely right, it’s the not knowing what’s happening which is the worst. I want him in as long as possible but as long as he’s safe. Placenta/cord etc is all fine at the moment so that’s positive.

Yes that doesn’t sound right if growth tailing off, hope you manage to get review with your original consultant soon