please help!! baby very small 35 weeks pregnant??

[chops79]

i have been for yet another growth scan and my baby girl has now lost weight since 2 weeks ago. breifly had growth scan at 27+4 weeks and she was on 10.6centile for weight with only her abdo measuring small, next scan 31+4 weeks weight on 17 centile(what a relief!) abdo caught up with h/c etc, next scan 33+5 weeks on 9.9 centile for weight so worried again although all the measurements were fairly equal, last scan 35+4 weeks (yesterday) ans she has lost 1oz, abdo circumference way low again and on only 1.2 centile for weight, i have another scan in 2 weeks to assess growth again, im so so worried my son was 7lb 2 oz when he was born 7 years ago so i know it isnt a case of me just carrting small babies, if anyone can share any advise i would really appreciate it...thanks x

Hi Chops - think we spoke before.

I think the fact they are leaving you another two weeks is something to take some comfort from. DD was born on the

yes i am 3 times a weeks there has been a little concearn a couple of times as they said she seemed a little too sleepy so was kept in for a re-trace then when they were happy sent home again. i just cant believe that she has lost a little weight over the past 2 weeks her a/c measurement has dropped off of the chart now as has her weight, i am beside myself with worry just dont know what to think the dr i saw yesterday was crap when i asked if there is anything i can do to improve things she said "talk to your baby!"??? when i go a little upset she just said "ill have to get someone else to come and see you- she seemed to panic at my emotions, she sent in the midwife who has been doing the ctg traces and she was lovely tried to reassure me but as you understand it just goes in one ear and out of the other as the worry takes over... i remember you have been through similar things so good to hear from you thanks.x

Oh Chops - I remember the feeling so well. I don't think there is anything you can do to make it better just keep an eye on movements but if they are tracing you 3 times a week at least you are getting a lot of contact with staff so express your concerns.

In my case IUGR was probably (although they never confirmed the link as dd had to be born anyway) a form of pre-eclampsia. My BP didn't rise until 37 weeks but realised afterwards that I had been slowly swelling although we didn't realise it at the time. I also started to get some visual disturbances at about 36 weeks. I don't mean to add to your worry but just in case you experience anything similar it would be worth mentioning.

Feel free to keep stressing at me if it helps !

thank you so much, my blood pressure seems perfect at the mo the afi index was good and doppler good on scan, so they dont seem to know why this is happening i just keep hearing so many horror stories with regard to iugr babies its such a hard time x

My son was way below even the 0.4C - I did have a tiny bump, and everyone kept saying it's because I am tiny - It was only picked up because he was in breech position and had a scan for this - this was at 37 weeks. I remember the anxiety, kept reading medical textbooks(even though I am medical). Fortunately he was moving a lot. I had an elective CS at 38 and 1/2 weeks and fortunately he was healthy. Put on wieght and reached the 0.4 C quickly but has remained there since. Really just posting to say, you can't help being worried, my thoughts are with you, and good luck.

Chops - I have 4 friends (met since havng babies) who had IUGR babies - all born around the 4.5 lb mark and none of them you would believe now. No developmental problems and no problems at birth so it really isn't a long term issue - just a huge worry until the baby is born.

chops79- the fact that you are having doppler scans along with growth scans is good, as these really do usually pick up any problems with blood flow to the baby which can be a sign of IUGR caused often by a form of pre-eclampsia or clotting problem which may not show classic signs. If the blood flow is still good then hang on in there...you are nearly term so your baby will be nearly mature so even if you did have to deliver sooner rather than later for any reason her chances are excellent and even if she needs help in SCBU it shouldn't be for too long.

I had pre-eclampsia in both my pregnancies but luckily didn't have IUGR, although #2 was small for dates so had some worries for her. All my doppler scans were good and ultimately both babies are healthy. IUGR is very scary but it seems babies do go on to do well and pile the weight on pretty quickly over a few months. Just be aware of pre-eclampsia symptoms just in case and definitely never underestimate any worries- just ask your obstetric team about anything that concerns you.

I was told to try to lie on my left side (I think!) to optimise the blood flow to the baby and for a few weeks had to have some bed rest to help LO but that's partly because I also had low AFI for a few weeks.

Good luck xxx

thank you all for your messages, worry is a horrible thing would be nice to be able to turn it off and be positive but you just cant!!! just have to keep fingers crossed, thank you again! xx