Growth scan referral

[rmorris95]

Hello!

Just looking for some advice. I'm 35 weeks 5 days but my baby is measuring at 32 weeks. I've been referred for a growth scan and the midwife tried to reassure that all will likely be okay however I can't help but worry! Anyone has similar experience? Thanks!

Hi, I'm not sure if it's the same as it's by weight rather than weeks, but I was told at 35/36 weeks that baby had stopped growing and only weighed 4lb. I was induced at 37 weeks and she weighed 6.4lb, so they were wrong.

I've heard they get it wrong a lot, so try not to worry.

It’s quite common to be referred and in most cases everything is fine! It happened in my first pregnancy and baby was 8lb 5.

It can be quite common and has happened in my two pregnancies.

For DD1, her growth had dramatically dropped down the centile chart (had gone from 75th to 9th or something similar). I was offered induction for 39w but she ended up being born spontaneously at 38w before the induction could take place. She was 5lb 12oz, so quite little.

For DD2, her growth was stable but she was only 6lbs 3oz at 39+3, so not really that much bigger.

Both times, I had problems with high blood pressure and preeclampsia, which was probably the cause. Both are doing well at 3yrs and 4months.

I had 2 growth scans between about 35-38 weeks. At the time I was really worried and nervous about it. Baby was born at 41+3 and was a healthy 8,3lbs. I’ve since spoken to lots of people and seems it’s more common than I’d thought at the time. Hope that puts o your mind at ease a little bit xxx

If you've just had the fundal measurement by the midwife these are notoriously unreliable and a lot of women get referred for a growth scan so don't worry.

It’s really common - the bump measurements is pretty unreliable but so are the growth scans! Everyone I know who has had them, the baby was nowhere near the weight they got told at the growth scan.

I'm assuming they are only going by fundal height if you have been referred for a scan?

Please don't worry at all. As PP said, that's very inexact. My first baby "stopped growing" (ie fundal height didn't change) from about that point too and I think it was to do with her position rather than plateauing growth - she was breech and wedged bottom-down in my pelvis. Born at 39 weeks a perfectly respectable 6lb 4oz. So, smallish but she's still on that percentile aged 5 so I think that's the size she's meant to be.

I'm 35 weeks with my second baby and have just had a growth scan (routine as I have gestational diabetes). She measures really similar to DD1's growth scan at the same GA, despite this time my fundal height continuing to increase normally. So I wouldn't worry too much. It's a nice opportunity to get to see your baby again if nothing else.