<5th centile babies - did you go to term?

[SnookyPook]

Hiya,

Just curious to hear from Mum's who've had diddy babies.

My first son was 50th centile at 20wks and never flagged up during fundal height measurements but when he was born at 41+1 he was 5th centile (6lbs15oz / 3150g).

Due to his birth weight, we'd already been told since booking that we would get extra growth scans in third trimester for my current pregnancy. At 20wk scan this little one was already 5th centile for HC and FL and so we were referred to foetal medicine. We just had a follow up scan yesterday at 24wks and he is now 3rd centile across the board. Consultant was happy that he looked super healthy and happy in there. My placenta is looking good, amniotic fluid levels great, circulation all spot on. No visual markers of infection seen (have had bloods but she's not expecting issues). She basically said he is tiny but strong and perfect looking. We have an option to due amniotic for genetic causes but further down the line to avoid risk of preterm labour before he's stronger. I don't feel inclined to do this anyway particularly given my DS1 was SGA.

Overall, I'm not feeling overly worried (although having occasional wobbles as I did have 3 losses last year and was just hoping for a stress-free pregnancy as much as possible!) and suspect I just make tiny babies. Hubby and I aren't particularly small but my whole family have had small babies. My DS1 is now 90th centile for height aged 3!

I just wondered if anyone has stories of low centile but healthy babies? In particular, did the pregnancy go full-term/over or did they want baby out a bit earlier? From what I've seen, they don't like SGA babies to stay in too long, but obviously we were completely oblivious with my son and all turned out ok!

Thanks!

My friend has 3 DC the largest was 6lb. All healthy and none are short as adults 🤷🏽‍♀️

On the other hand I have whoppers despite being shorter than her etc.

Personally I think maternal family history is often a factor. My Mum had big babies, her Mum had small ones.

Yep, my Sis and I were both small - 6lbs4oz and 5lbs12oz at term! My Mum said that she would have probably had all sorts of growth scans and panics if it had been common practice then! Thanks for sharing.

Not me but one of my best friends. Very stressful pregnancy with scans weekly in the third trimester due to small size. Induced at 38 weeks and had a pretty positive birth. ‘Baby’ will be 6 this year and has been thriving ever since she was born.

Well my supposed 6lb-er ended up being 8lb3!!

My son was recorded as being 50th centile at a 40 week scan but was born five days later on the 14th.

Husband and I were both 6lb something at term so this wasn't a surprise to me.

I've had growth scans throughout my current pregnancy and this baby is predicted to be on the 50th centile like they suggested for my son. I had to laugh and told the sonographer that I'll believe it when I see it.

My baby was estimated to be on the 6th centile, so I was induced at 38+5. He ended up being born on the 1st but was perfectly healthy, just small and has been thriving since birth.

My nieces were all 6lb ish and perfectly healthy 3 born at term and 1 2 weeks early. All in their early teens now and average height/healthy.
I didn't realise 6lb was small tbh. I'm 32 weeks nearly, having a growth scan next week and as I'm only 5ft 1 and have a small bump will probably measure small..I gather they worry more about how fast baby is growing and if they are getting everything from placenta rather than the start weight. As long as baby is thriving in there is all that matters.

Thanks all for your insights. It seems that those that were known to be small from regular growth scans were induced around 38wks then..? Glad to hear lots of healthy thriving babies though!

I have DD1 born at 40+2, 5th centile, 6lbs 1oz. Now 4 and always tracked 9th centile. Very healthy apart from school germs.

DD2, 39+2, 8th centile, 6lbs 3ozs. Now 5 months and between 25th and 50th line. Much larger child, totally different shape. Shorter and chubbier.

I think I just have small babies I am only 5ft 4 and under 9 stone. I think I was 6lbs 7oz at birth. Husband tall and average weight. All my family are slight though. 2nd pregnancy I was much heavier but made absolutely no difference x

My first was 5lb 4 and was delivered at 38 weeks and 3 days. My second was 5lb 12 and was born at 41 weeks plus 1 day. Both very healthy as children and are now adults. They remained small and slim throughout but are very healthy. They thought my first would be alot smaller but the scan was incorrect.

Yes you will probably be recommended to induce early as they do so often these days. Personally I declined until growth tailed off and was induced at 40+5. Small but tracking their line is less of a concern. If we had maintained the centile (even a small one) and providing dopplers remained good I would have waited longer.

I was induced at 37 and 5 due to reduced growth. Baby was born weighing <5lbs - small but perfectly formed. I'd be ready any time from 37 weeks. To be honest I welcomed the induction because I had started to feel anxious and hyper vigilant on movements. Plus, I hate waiting 😂

My baby had to be induced at 37 weeks due to IUGR. He weighed 4lb 9oz, he was so so tiny, but absolutely perfect health. We stayed in hospital overnight so they could monitor his blood sugar levels and then we went home.

By 6 weeks old he had doubled his birth weight.

At 9 months old my DD weighed 17lb ( she was 7lb 1oz when she was born ) DS ( my 4lb 9oz ) weighed 17lb at 5 months old.

My little boy was born at 40+1 and 5lbs 8oz. Wasn't aware he'd be small until he arrived (growth scan suggested he'd be 50th centile...) but he was perfectly healthy, still no issues health wise and developmentally meeting (/marginally ahead) of all milestones. He's still tiny (around 1st centile) so suspect I also just make small babies!

Thanks so much everyone. Really helpful and reassuring to hear these stories. Also good to be prepared for possibility of induction a bit early. Just wondering if I should contact HR to move my Mat Leave forward a bit 🤔 Although I have booked in leave too from mid-July (currently due mid-August) so hopefully will be fine!

My baby was born on the 0.2th centile at 38 weeks (labour started naturally but slow to progress so ended up with c-section). Small but perfectly healthy. Has been thriving since birth (now on 20th centile at 6 months). Fundal height measurements never indicated he was SGA.

My first was born at 41+1 (8 days late) too and was 6lbs 12oz. Nothing was ever mentioned about her size. She was predicted to be 7lb something on due date from a growth scan I had at 38 weeks so it was quite a bit out. She’s now nearly 9 and is a totally average size and weight and healthy.

I was born at 38 weeks (induced) after my mum had a stillborn at full term because of an issue with her placenta and I was 5lb 3oz and I’m short but perfectly healthy.

I had a c section at thirty five weeks for iugr. He was predicted to be 3lb and was 3lb. We stayed in neonatal for a while. Hoping #2 grows better and it's not just that I'm crap at growing babies.

#1 is now twenty one months and tracking ninth centile. He was late to walk and only says a few words but my God is he wonderful

My mum was tiny, I was tiny, both my DDs were tiny. My DDs has 2 vessel cords which may run in families but as it wasn't checked for in the past we can't prove - my DDs know that they will be potentially having small babies too. They are adults now so may find out in the next few years.

Mine were born at term from spontaneous labour, they didn't do so many scans then

Just updating with current situation. 32 weeks now. Last scan was at 31+4 and he was measuring 3lbs3oz - still <3rd centile but Dopplers and fluid etc still all looking good. The previous scan had showed possible slowing of growth but this one seems to have picked up again. All being well, consultant says current plan would be to deliver 'by 37wks'. I've been a bit worried about putting a tiny baby through induction, as well as my own body if it's not ready... But rereading this thread I see a few of you had successful early inductions with tiny babies. Wonder if anyone is happy to share a bit more about their experience of this? After losses last year I felt like I was veering to an elective section for the controllability and less stress on little one but I'm not sure yet. Would be grateful to hear people's experiences.