14th to 11th percentile?

[Molliekn]

Hi,

had a growth scan yesterday at 32 weeks because of reduced movement. They told me she is growing nicely but is on the 11th percentile now as opposed to 14th at 20 week scan? I don’t get it, that seems like a reduction to me and if she keeps following that line in another 8 weeks will have surely dropped another percentile or two? I feel really worried something is wrong. She’s also breach so that is really worrying me too.

I’m 34 weeks and my baby is measuring about the same as yours with a similar situation. They reckon they got my early measurements wrong. I’ve since had 2 growth scans and both of those shes just over the 10th percentile but doing well. Have you been booked for another growth scan at 34 weeks? My dates of scans are a bit out as NHS missed a week and had 3 weeks between scans a while ago so I’m getting my third growth scan on Friday this week. They should be keeping an eye on you but around the 10th percentile is healthy by the sounds of things.

Thank you. I haven’t even been booked in for another growth scan?? Are they doing growth scans just to monitor you or is there another reason if you don’t mind me asking? They just said she’s growing and sent me on my way pretty much…

14th to 11th centile is not really much of a drop, there's probably less than an ounce difference. Given that growth scans can be inaccurate by +/- 10% (or even more) they probably don't consider it's really changed.

If you'd dropped from say 80th to 11th centile or if you were measuring below 5th (I think) then they may want to do further checks, but at long as you're more or less tracking the same and aren't near 0 or 100th centile then they probably aren't worried!

@Molliekn I’m over 35 so fall in to the category to get extra scans anyway as there’s a higher chance of a small baby. But my SIL had a really little baby and she got regular growth scans once her size was picked up, her baby was just under 5lb but totally healthy and didn’t need to stay in hospital any longer than normal. We think our families just produce little babies and none of us were big at birth and none of my partners sisters have had particularly big babies.