15th centile at 20 weeks

[Rainbowchasing2022]

I recently attended for my 20 week scan (20w5d) and was advised baby is on the 15th centile. The abdomen was exact, although head and femur length both measured 8 days behind.

the sonographer said this wasn’t an indication to refer to FMU at this stage, although it may be monitored. No further scan was booked at this stage but I am due to see consultant next week.

I feel worried sick. My son was born 8lb13 at 38w6d so not at all small and always tracked between 75th-90th centile.

surely when this centile is plotted against my personal chart, the 15th will just drop further. I really don’t want to get too like 28w plus before being referred to fetal medicine and potentially find an issue.

has anyone had similar at 20 weeks and turned out to be ok?

This is still within the normal ranges for people who are pregnant and your size. What will change that is if you have further growth scans and he drops. Scan measurements are not an exact science and at the moment he's bumbling along quite nicely.

I measured 11th centile at my 20 week scan (when I was 21 weeks) a few weeks ago and the medics were all very unconcerned. They said it's still normal range so didn't even book follow ups or referral, which did worry me a bit but they were all pretty relaxed.

I'm 28 weeks now and have gone up to 15th percentile.

Apparently some babies are just small. They said as long as you stay in the normal ranges it's nothing to be concerned about, so here's hoping 💕

My DS measured 2nd centile , I was referred to fetal medcine they measured him on the 6th but weren't worried.

He was born 9 weeks early (not related) on the 25 centile, after being told the day before he was back to 2nd . He's now 14 weeks corrected and on the 75 centile. Try not to worry to much scans can be of . I also had a c section with my first as they said he was going to be 10 pounds he was 7 12 when born.

Thank you all. I hope that is the case for any further scans 🙈 just so odd when my son was so big. The only difference really is that I used Asprin with his pregnancy and not this one as I didn’t meet the criteria this time! Xx

My friend's first was 95th and still is. He's a whopper. Her second wasn't even on the growth chart for the first year. Huge concerns, no issues found, he's just tiny.

I know it's easier said than done but please try not to worry. At my 20 week scan they told me femurs and head were 2 weeks behind and I would be closely monitored. FMU declined my referral twice as I was just on the brink of their requirements. I was petrified beyond belief it completely ruined my pregnancy. I had scans and a consultant appointment every 2 weeks the head did eventually catch up but femurs stayed behind. I'm now sat cuddling my 14 week old DD and I can safely say she's In perfect proportion and measuring ahead now. A lot of times they do get it wrong and the statistics are based on every pregnant woman in the UK but we all make different size babies. I'm here if you have any more questions I literally went through this exact thing. Try and enjoy your pregnancy x

@Patty23 thank you. It’s awful isn’t it 😩 I had terrible anxiety with my son’s pregnancy as he was following two losses. But thankfully never had a reason to be anxious medically, just was.

this time I had a sickness bug at 6 weeks requiring admission for fluids, bleeding 3 seperate times the last at 14 weeks, UTIs and kidney stones.. and now a smaller baby. I feel so drained and only half way through.

how heavy was your baby when born if you don’t mind me asking? I’m glad she is perfect 🩷 xx

@Rainbowchasing2022pregnancy is such a nerve wrecking time and sometimes scans just make this worse! I completely get how you feel I had 5 losses and 3 years of trying before I had my DD. She was 6.14lb when she was born via emergency c section but this wasn't due to her legs being small she had a really short cord. All babies are grow differently no two pregnancies are the same. I honestly would not worry your little one will probably have a growth spurt in a couple of weeks! They say scans have a leeway of 2 weeks aswell as it's so hard to get the wriggly little things! Congratulations on your pregnancy by the way xx

Also my consultant didn't really bat an eyelid she just said its their guidelines to do growth scan and consultant appointment every 2 weeks. I just took it as an exciting opportunity to watch her grow it made the rest of the pregnancy fly by x

@Patty23 yeh I do think scans can contribute to the stress as needed as they are on times!

that is a good weight and makes ne feel better tbh. I wouldn’t be so stressed if I thought I was heading for that weight!

I see my consultant this week. He delivered my son via c section and we had a good relationship. I feel if he tells me it isn’t a concern I’ll chill a little as ido trust him.

I really appreciate you sharing your similar experience though. Thank you xxx

I’m currently having growth scans. I’m 23 weeks and my baby’s femurs were measuring just above 3rd percentile at the 20 week scan. Their head and abdomen were normal and it put their overall weight on the 14th percentile. We had a follow up scan with a consultant yesterday who sort of implied he was unsure why we were referred in the first place as technically we were measuring above the 3rd percentile and anything on or below that warrants a scan. Anyway, the femurs had grown by 8mm (which is a lot in 3 weeks) but are still now just above the 4th percentile. So still smaller than average but at least growing on their own curve. The baby’s weight is now 32nd percentile. So just want to reassure you that if it starts low it doesn’t mean it will go lower or tail off. It’s still so early that they’re still growing and can grow at different rates and scans still have a margin of error. That’s what I keep telling myself anyway. I have another scan at 28 weeks but was told by the consultant that technically given our measurements they wouldn’t usually bring us back until 35 Weeks but if he can check and sign us off sooner then he’d prefer to. Don’t get me wrong, I sound much more relaxed than I actually am but reading other women’s positive stories helps.

@pumpkinpatches22 aww bless you.

it is nerve wracking although a positive the consultant didn’t see it as a concern! Definitely is a big growth in a short time too.

they have said they will likely growth scan at 28w for me, although I think this wasn’t clinically required it was more down to how anxious I was about it.

it had worked me up for quite a while with worry. But I am trying too relax until we find out what the next scan shows.

they did predict my son to be almost 2lb smaller than he was at birth so I know first hand how inaccurate the measurements can be. It just still throws in anxiety doesn’t it 🙈

I hope you’re feeling ok xxx