Should I be worried?

[Chaz693]

I’m 32 weeks pregnant. At my 31 week midwife appointment last week when measuring my fundle height it was smaller than when it was measured at 28 weeks. This led to an emergency growth scan the same day. At the scan baby was fine but was only measuring on the 12th percentile. Which was a big drop from the 89th that she was on. I’ve got another growth scan booked for when I’m 33 weeks to see if she’s dropped anymore. I guess what I’m wondering is if she has stayed on the 12th percentile should I be worried? As that seems like she’s going to be very small and maybe there’s something else going on. Also if she has dropped anymore in percentiles what are they likely to do? I’ve spent far too much time on google and now I’m panicking a bit. Just want some reassurance.

That sounds a worry for you I hope you are ok. I have no specific advice, only my own experiences with my two. First child they told me to prepare for a big baby. 8 and a half pounds was the estimate. She was just over 5lbs when she was born a week later. My other child they took me in early to induce cause they were concerned she wasn't growing and was very small.... She was a very healthy 7lbs 9oz. They just get it wrong sometimes. I hope you get more reassurance from your next scan x

Hey! I’m currently 32 weeks. Had a bit of a scare at 28 weeks as my baby was measuring on the 6th centile 😟

Spent a solid 2 weeks crying hysterically waiting for the next growth scan to see what was going on. I spent way too much time on Google worrying myself.

Long story short I went back 2 weeks later and baby was on the 10th centile which put me borderline on the small but not alarmingly small category. They told me anything above the 10th and below the 90th is fine but as long as the baby keeps following along their own growth line it would be ok.

Went back today for another growth scan and baby is still hovering around 10th centile and they didn’t seem too worried as it’s growing as expected even though it’s small.

They told me today that if baby keeps growing the way it’s growing I can go to 40 + 5. However if the growth slows down or stops they’ll talk about inducing me as close to 37 weeks as I can get. Basically there are loads of reasons why growth may slow down and sometimes baby might be better out than in!

I know it’s easier said than done but try and keep calm, eat well, rest well and don’t Google loads!!

I know this is probably a load of waffle but I hope it helps you even a little bit! 🩷

Thank you for your reply. I know they can be wrong they assumed my son was going to be small because of my stomach measurements but he was 8pounds 3 at 12 days late so actually a pretty good size. I know I carry small outwardly but I think that’s coz I’m 5ft9 with a long torso so they grow up rather than out lol! But I never had any extra scans with my son as I never measured that far behind normally a week or so. Which was why I was surprised that at how small she was measuring. I know there measurements can be off. Think I’m just worried that there going to decide to induce me early but in my head I always assumed she’d come late like her brother so I don’t feel prepared at all! lol 😂 x

Thank you! Honestly this is just what I needed to hear. I think I’m panicking because in my head there going to want to induce me early and I’m no where near ready! I went 12 days late with my first and I think I just assumed I’d be the same with this one. So I’ve been very chill with getting everything. So I did panic order everything I’d need just incase today! I’m trying to tell myself to not worry till after my next scan as there’s nothing to worry about till then. Plus she’s still moving around like crazy in there like she has been for weeks. So she clearly isn’t struggling with energy lol!

thank you for sharing your experience with me though. It really has settled me a bit more to hear someone else is going through this too! X

Stomach measurements are stupid. They change size and shape throughout the day depending on how much food I’ve eaten or how much I’ve had to drink. My friend was threatened with all kinds of scares and they said she would need to be induced early because her baby was “big”. He was barely 6lb when he was born!

12th percentile is small but I wouldn’t worry too much about it as long as baby continues to grow on their own curve x

Just an update. I had my second growth scan yesterday and she has dropped now to the 6th percentile. I saw the consultant after my appointment and she didn’t seem concerned and said it’s likely she’s just going to be a small baby as they can not find any reason for her to be slow growing. My placenta looks good and the blood flow is all normal. I’m now going for a weekly scan next one will just be Doppler to check blood flow and then a weekly scan next later another growth scan. They did say they may have to consider early induction if she drops anymore but not till around 38 weeks unless there’s a real cause for concern.

she’s also still breech which makes me nervous because I really do not want a c-section! So she needs to turn head down! Feel like yesterday I was so overwhelmed by all the information that I just kind of shut down and was ready for all this to be over so I could see her and make sure she was okay!

Hey! Glad to hear your update!

So glad you and baby are doing well! 🩷💙

I’m still in a similar boat to you! Stuck with the weekly growth scans to keep an eye on the growth but I seem to be sitting in and around between the 6th and 10th centile every time. Also consultant isn’t concerned as same as you the cord, placenta and fluid all look good so they reckon just a small baby! They’ve touched on the fact I might need an early induction around 38 weeks too but will have to wait and see!

Make sure and post when your baby is born and I’ll do the same! Not too long to go now!!

thank you for replying! I’m both glad and sorry you’re going through this too! Lol! Glad because it’s nice to know this happens to other people but also sorry because it sucks to add worry to any pregnancy. I will defo keep you updated with how my next scan goes and if the plan changes.

Now I feel like I’ve lost 4 weeks to prepare for baby lol. Was so expecting this to go like my first pregnancy and end up going 2 weeks overdue lol! So to be actually more likely to have her early i feel like i need to get my butt in gear!

when are you due? My due date is meant to be the 9th of June but it’s looking like we may be having a May baby instead! X

I’m due on the 10th June! Also looking like a May baby for me I think!! Scary how quickly it’s going in. 🤯 I have another growth scan this Wednesday to see how things are going 🤞

@BastilleBastilleoh wow! Hope it goes well on Wednesday! Im considering ordering some premie clothes just incase she’s smaller and doesn’t fit into newborn. Kinda terrified I’m going to go in for one of my scans and there going to be like today’s the day she’s going to come. I like being prepared and feel like there going to surprise me lol 😂 x

@BastilleBastille how did your growth scan go? I had a Doppler scan on Friday and everything seemed good. Though she’s still breech. After being transverse that morning at my midwife appointment. so I’m giving myself this week to do everything to get her to turn! Hope you’re good!

@Chaz693 it went well thank you! Baby is still smallish, on the 14th centile at the most recent scan so I’m still under close observation! Baby is head down for me now and boy can I feel it!! The pressure is nothing ordinary! 😂 slight complication this week in that my blood results have come back and I’m severely low on iron so I’m booked in for an iron transfusion at the start of the week! It’s never ending!!

Glad your Doppler scan went well yesterday! Im definitely in the same boat as you, keep waiting to go in and hear I’m being brought in the next day! Spent today organising the house and packing my hospital bag just in case 😂 I had a look in Sainsbury’s earlier. They have some lovely unisex baby grows for up to 5lbs - was sorely tempted to buy one to have just incase!!

@Chaz693 i had a similar experience to you, bump was measuring on 90th centile until my 34 week appointment when it hadn’t grown at all. My growth scans showed baby on 50th then 5th then below 5th centile and he was born on the 2nd weighing 5lb 13, I was just shy of 40 weeks. I was induced but did have a csection as smaller babies can’t cope with labour as well as bigger babies. Maybe something to bear in mind/prepare for? He was fine when born and we were discharged in 24 hours.

It sounds like you’re being really well looked after which is positive and much better than the care I had! There was loads of doubt over babies measurements from my scans but they refused to rescan and I ended up paying for private scans. I also never saw a consultant!

Im pregnant again now and it is a high risk pregnancy as apparently one small baby makes another more likely. My DS is 1 and still tiny on the 5th centile but he’s perfectly healthy.

From a practical POV you may want to get some tiny baby clothes as he didn’t get into newborn until about 6 weeks old.

@Zoggggthank you for this. I’m really hoping by my growth scan on Friday she has grown a bit more and either stayed on the 6th or gone back up. From my last scan she’s measuring around 4lb so if we make it to full term she’ll be around 6lb. I’m really hoping to not need a c-section but I am aware that it may be the safest and best option for me and her. So I won’t say no to it. I’ve always had the mindset that what ever way is the safest for her is what I’ll do. I just don’t want to forced into a section coz they prefer to have me booked in for there ease. As I know this happens. The consultant told me as long as she turns she doesn’t see why I couldn’t have a vaginal birth like with my last. So my mission is to get her to flip! lol x

Just an update from today’s growth scan. Baby girl has grown and is now on the 10th percentile. And even better she is heads down! So best news I could get I think. I have one more growth scan in 2 weeks where I’ll almost be 38 weeks. Just to make sure she keeps growing. Only news I wasn’t great about was that he was concerned bout the position of my placenta. I have a posterior one and he said if I get really bad back pain to not wait and come into the hospital as it could be a sign of it detaching and if that happens I’d only have 20 minutes before it be fatal but I live over 30 minutes away from the hospital. So thats not good x