Baby measuring below 3rd centile 28 weeks

[Britanix]

I've just had a growth scan and baby is measuring below the 3rd centile I'm 28 weeks 3 days . I'm waiting for the consultant now and I'm.getting referred to fetal medicine has anyone had this before ?
I've had a really awful pregnancy so far was hoping I could relax. Placenta and fluid looked normal . Thanks

Just to add I measured 10 days ahead as my 12 week scan and all other scans since and before have measured behind. Could it be this ?

Not had this situation, but it sounds like it could be a dating issue (i.e. that you are not as far along as they were thinking) and hence the small measurements?

Either way it's good that you have a referral to fetal medicine, they should be able to advise whether this is normal.

I have had two very small babies, and with the second one she was measuring pretty small already by by the 20 week scan (we were referred to fetal medicine at that point, though they took a look, said nothing was wrong, and discharged us back to the consultant). She continued small and I had to have a lot of scans as they were keeping a close eye on her, but she was born healthy. Neither of my children has had any further problems due to being small, and both were born at or under the 1st percentile.

Something to be aware of is that the measurements aren't the easiest to make - they're scanning through you, baby may be at an angle, they're trying to measure something really small, etc. So there is some possible change/ margin of error due to this.

Bear in mind that around 1 in 30 babies is going to measure at or under the 3rd percentile so that's not that uncommon and it doesn't necessarily mean something's wrong. What I think often happens in pregnancy or with newborns is that they check anything a bit out of the ordinary, because they'd rather unnecessarily check 100 healthy babies than miss the one where there is a problem. Obviously I can't promise you nothing's wrong but the chances are everything is fine and they're just checking to be safe.

Thanks both x I was reading my 12 week scan and it says abdominal scaring affecting the image resolution the scan , and therefore affecting accuracy . I've always thought I was dated wrong but the midwife I asked said 12 week scans can never be wrong...

I did. For me, my placenta was working intermittently, so her growth was very slow. I ended up with preeclampsia at 32 weeks and her growth basically stopped so I was induced at 36 weeks.
She was very small but all fine and healthy.
Can be all sorts of reasons, in my friends case their measurements were wrong :)

If your diet is healthy and you're a non-smoker, then there's nothing you can do to change the situation. No point in worrying.

Is this your first growth scan?

As my midwife said as long as the pattern stays the same throughout growth scans etc, and not a sudden drop or increase then there is no need to worry.

Every baby is different and you may just have a small baby.

When is your next appointment?
I think I'm due same day as you and had a growth scan this week, got another one in 4 weeks to discover a pattern

Yes this is my first since 20 weeks (I've had cervix scans but they don't look at the baby ) all his measurements are the same percentage at his 20 week scan so heads been 13% at both , abdominal 32% yesterday and 29% at 20 weeks .

The only big drop is femur length that's gone from 13% to 2%.

He's always measured small , which is why I think he was measured ahead they really struggled as he was under my c section and previous surgery scars.

Also my diet is not the best which is worrying my . I've got horrific sickness and I'm lucky if I keep one meal down a day , but I'm managing fluid . Maybe everything combined is the problem .

Also congratulations! X

Obviously driving myself a bit mad . But I'm convinced he scanned me to far ahead , we would have to have had sex the day after my period . Which would never happen I can't have sex in the lead up or after my period due to serve endo pain