Baby is extremely small on growth chart

[Beth98]

Went for my growth scan yesterday at 31+1 and baby is on the 0.2 centile which has obviously thrown me and freaked me out. My blood pressure is high so I’ve been kept overnight but the preeclampsia test was negative luckily. I’ll be having cord scans twice a week and growth scans 2 weeks apart and whenever they think she’s safer out than in I’ll be having a c-section and that could be anywhere between 32 and 37 weeks though they don’t think I’ll make it to 37.

Has anyone had a similar experience that can ease my anxieties? I just want her to be okay!

Hi there I am a midwife not a doctor so I can't comment on every aspect of your care. However it seems the hospital is doing everything right. The most likely reason your baby is so small is your high blood pressure. This is dangerous for you and your baby. So the hospital did the right thing by keeping you in to try and control your blood pressure and to monitor your baby. Please put attention to your baby's movements and discuss them with your midwife- when you should alert her if you think your baby isn't moving much. I expect you will be seen by a Consultant obstetrician today (the highest ranking doctor) to discuss with you your plan of care. Generally doctors would prefer to wait until at least 32 weeks when the risks of premature birth begin to decrease. However they might offer you a CS earlier. It all depends on your blood pressure, the results of your baby's monitoring and on your blood and urine results. Most babies do really well once they are born and catch up quickly. The main risk is the risk of stillbirth which the doctors are actively working to avoid by offering you close monitoring. So far they seem to be doing everything right, try not to panic. I hope it helps