Baby measuring small at 28 weeks

[Merryoncemore]

Hi,

Just back from midwives and I've been told the baby is only measuring 24 weeks, I have to wait a week to be re-measured and then a week for referral if they are still concerned. Having had 2 previous miscarraiges in the last 12 months, I'm not feeling great about this.

How concerned should I be?

Hi Merry

just wanted to offer some (hopefully) encouraging anecdote - my DS (now nine weeks) measured small all through my pregnancy (that is, my bump was small) - they kept sending me for measuring scans as they were concerned. I went a week overdue, and was only measuring 37 weeks on the day I went into labour - and DS came out weighing 10lb 7oz . So - it doesn't have to mean anything at all. Some people just do measure smaller, I think.

Good luck, hope all ok next week, and try not to worry in the meantime.

That makes me feel better, they did say she was big at 20 weeks, perfect at 25 weeks but only measuring 24 weeks today which by my logic would suggest she is smaller than she was 3 weeks ago?

I'm sure she has just flipped over, been hiding from the midwife (who left me bruised all over the last time she examined me) as she is so heavy handed, but under the circumstances I'm finding it hard to relax.

I assume you had your bump measured and was small ? This is a really unreliable method of measuring the baby !

I always measured bang on dates but my dd did have IUGR. Thankfully this was picked up at my 22 week scan and so I was scanned regularly otherwise it would never have been picked up going on bump measurement.

Rest assured if they were very concerned they would have you in for a scan tomorrow.

And, if it is a genuine issue - dd was born at 37 weeks weighing 4lbs 9 oz and thrived from the moment she was born and has never had any related problems (in fact, is exceedingly healthy and robust touch wood and met most of her developmental markers on time, if not early).

Its v. hard not to worry I know but hope you can be reassured a bit.

did the same midwife measure all 3 times ? The baby may be in a different position so the exact points of measurement may not have been the same.

When you say measured - is that from a scan or from the tape measure the midwife uses? If it's the tape measure, it's a pretty inexact science and has a lot to do with your body shape. I've measured small throughout - in fact at 40+4, I'm still measuring 35! They sent me for a scan a few weeks ago because I hadn't grown at all, but all was fine - it's just because I have a long waist, so the baby has more room. The technician said that happens all the time. Babies come in all shapes and sizes - the midwife said that if there was a problem, then there would likely be other signs as well.

I'm sure you've already been told this, but just take it easy on yourself, eat lots of healthy stuff, and try to rest - which I know is easier said than done!

Hi Wheelybug, same midwife last time and this, the 20 week measurements were from the scan.

My gut feel is that all is probably fine (but this is my first), I noticed last night that my sides just under the ribs were solid which I have never been aware of before and that makes me think that she might just be off for a little wander. She's also kicking me as I type (is that how you spell that, or have I lost the plot!), so she doesn't feel wee to me, but who knows. As you say if they were concerned I'd probably be at the baby unit now so maybe I'll just try to relax as well.

My MW was concerned about fundus height when I was 6 months pregnant, and told me I'd have to go in that afternoon for an emergency scan. There wasn't a time slot available until a few days later, so suddenly it wasn't such an emergency. Sonographer told me I had a "neat bump" and Doctor confirmed everything ok. It had been a nasty few days and really took the shine off our honeymoon.
If MW's are only measuring you with a tape measure, your bump can move around, some days you are just bigger, or smaller than others.
Hope everything ok, if/when you have a scan.

echo everyone else - it's an inexact science and if they were genuinely concerned they'd have rushed you in for a scan. My sonographer was actually quite cross and said the midwives are always worrying people unnecessarily by sending them for scans. So try not to worry if you can help it.

If I can just tell my husband without blubbing we may be on to a winner.

Just booked to get my haircut on Saturday as well as a "mother to be massage" and a bikini wax. She can't be that bloody wee as I can no longer see to do it myself, sorry TMI, and if I can tell him all that without him blubbing all will no doubt be well.

It just pisses me off that that regardless of how rational I can be about it now, I know at 4am tomorrow morning when I'm lying awake staring at the ceiling it will be a different story.

all three of my pregnancies i had the same thing "baby seems a bit small" was having scans every two weeks by the end of pregnancy. baby's were all born a little on the small side but i was assured this isn't unusual as i'm only 5'2 & 7st...r u also on the small side?

ive just had a scan am 33weeks and booked in for an elective c-section in 6weeks, but my mw thought i was a bit small so just to be on the safe side i had a scan and my baby is smaller then normal but am going for another scan in 2weeks so will keep yas up to date

Back to the midwives today so let's just hope that I have grown greatly in the last week and caught up the 5 weeks they think I'm under.

Elle, I'm not petite by any stretch being 5'5 and weighing 10st pre pregnancy. To be fair I think she has now flipped around again and last week she was just back to back with me when they measured, either that or on Saturday afternoon she was having her own breakdancing competition in there. At one point I was asking where it was she thought she might be going as her options are pretty limited!

Kyme - Try not to worry too much a friend of mine is currently nursing her beautiful and healthy 6 week old boy after getting scanned every week from 28 - 37 because he was too small. They eventually induced her at 37 weeks to be on the safe side and he was born at 7lb 2oz, so not that wee afterall.

I'm writing off the measuring as an inexact science, so we'll wait and see if I get scanned and what that may show.

If it helps, I was almost the same as you. Big at 20 weeks scan, bit big at 24 wks with measuring tape. Settled at about 26 weeks and has been small ever since! That coincided with the discovery that the baby was transverse for numerous weeks and from what you've said about there being something under the sides of your ribs, sounds like I felt during that time. Every kick felt like it was aiming for a kidney. Maybe your baby fancies a little lie down too? Anyhoo, MW was not overly concerned re size but did send for presentation scan at 37 wks only to find baby had turned head down but was still in quite an unusual position and was OK size wise. Now I'm a bloody week overdue with what feels like a small whale. After all that waffle, my point is, try not to worry. Tape measures are pretty subjective and for that matter, scans are not that accurate either. Babies move about loads. I'm sure its just having a sunbathe.

Hoping to make you feel better, my dr (head of dept) said the week before I had my baby that he was going to be smaller than average and he was very thorough using the scan and measuring liquid etc and my boy was very big, my friend measured small and she had a very healthy normal slightly smaller than average baby which was no drama at all!

Vicsta, you may be right, at both my 12 week and 20 week scans she was lying with her legs crossed and her hands behind her head therefore deciding to traverse in order to facilitate her laid back, lying in a hammock approach would be no surprise. I just hope she is as chilled after birth. I feel for you being overdue, especially in this weather. Here's hoping todays the day

Lispy - You're the 3rd person I know who get given this information and went on to have a "robust" baby, maybe I should be more concerned about that

At my 20 week scan my baby measured near the bottom of the scale, went back 4 weeks later and the sonographer nearly fell off her chair because I then measured right up at the top of the scale. I'm 27 weeks at the moment and I've had my bump measured twice recently and both times have been told that it's spot on, so I think all these measurements are just guidelines and estimations.