32week growth scan dropped to 1.8th centile (prev 14th).... how!? Why!? What next?

[Workaholic2mum]

Anyone been for a growth scan and measured significantly smaller somehow? .....Estimated Fetal Weight (EFW) dropped from the 14th centile at my 20 week scan down to the 1.8th centile at 32 weeks.

They haven't got smaller, they just haven't grown so are now smaller than you'd expect for their age and previous rate of growth. Previously they were bigger than 13 babies out of 100 babies of that age, now they are bigger than 1 baby out of 100 babies of that age. I'd expect you to have repeated growth scans to check for issues.

Id expect to be referred to the fetal medicine unit in London. I was sent there when my babies head was measuring very small. They remeasured and said she was fine and I didnt have to see them again.

Yes- I’m having growth scans during this pregnancy due to first baby being small at birth (2nd centile). This time, the 32 week scan showed that this baby was measuring around the 30th centile, 36 week had dropped to the 11th. Had another scan at 38 weeks which showed baby was closer to the 25th centile.
As previous posters have said you’ll probably have further scans. If this scan was done by a different sonographer to the first scan, it could even be down to a differences in the way they measure.

So I had a repeat scan today plus doppler and measurements are near enough the same, measuring on the 2nd centile instead of 1.8th. I was told the pressure is higher in the placenta (i think) so need and urgent repeat scan. Does this sound remotely similar to your experiences or does it sound like there's something majorly wrong.... its making me anxious. Baby measured 3lbs and 5oz this time. But overall I was told too small.

@Workaholic2mum I think they will continue to monitor you. In the meantime, I'd leep an eye on babies movement and present at. maternity triage if feel like movement changes. I'd also make sure your hospital bag is ready and packed. If your placenta isn't working properly and your baby isn't growing, they may want to deliver the baby early for its safety. They will be weighing up all the risks and benefits. Have the suggested steroid injections to help the babies lungs develop?

Its natural to be worried. Is someone going with you to the hospital? It might would be helpful to go with someone else so they can write things down or ask questions that you might not think of. My brain goes all mussy as soon as I go into a hospital and then I have tons of questions once im at home.

Places other than London have units like this.

OP I imagine they’ll continue to monitor. If I had to guess I assume they’ll give you another 2 weeks so they can see the growth over a 2 week period.

For now it sounds like they’re happy that baby is better off in than out. xx

Thank you for your quick responses, my next scan is Wednesday for a doppler recheck as the fetal doppler shows PI increase from 1.02 68% to 1.22 93%. And the cut off is 95%. Now I dont know the meaning of this, just that the pressure is higher due to resistance in the vessel going from babys heart to placenta. That is what I understood but I could be wrong. No mention of steroids yet just continuing consultant / fetal medicine scans. And expect a growth scan repeat in 2 weeks. I understand fetal medicine is located in every hospital

Glad you have a plan.

Steroids would only be given if they were planning to get baby out.

Keep an eye on any symptoms for pre-eclampsia, it’s something that can happen if the placenta is having difficulties.

So just to update, I went for a scan last week which showed placenta function as good (no report & not on badger app) but I presume the numbers were better than the last without the resistance- so basically doppler scan was good!

The negative - baby is on 0.4th centile.... I have a repeat scan booked for thi week although induction is advised at 36 weeks.

Anyone been in this situation? Could is just be a generally small but healthy baby?

As growth is slowing there's something going on, and the scan can only tell you what's happening in that exact moment - my sonographer was very clear about the fact that although everything was fine at the point of my scan, that didn't mean it was fine overall and that movements trumped the scan. So keep a really close eye on movements and any decrease call triage and go straight in. It's reaching the point where it's safer to have small baby early rather than try and cook them for a bit longer...chances are they'll be perfect but tiny, but there's something slowing their growth. You may never know what though. Fingers crossed for you x

@Anothercake thank you for your reply. Have you been through something like this ? My next scan is in 2 days so will surely update

Yes, my daughter was tracking on her centile until 37 weeks when she stopped growing (found at a presentation scan as she had been breech, but I'd had growth scans throughout due to seven episodes of reduced movements). They said that with the movements history they wanted to induce, even though everything looked fine on the scan. She was born and totally fine, but once my placenta was delivered they realised it was really small which hadn't been picked up before. So I was very pleased to have a healthy baby out and safe.

@Anothercake I didn't realise they measured placenta sizes, or if thats even a thing. I've heard of doppler scan to check the placenta. Well I had my scan last week. Baby is on the 2.4th centile. It is possible the earlier scan (0.4th centile) just was not accurate, done by a trainee. So essentially baby has gone from 1.8th to 2.4th. However IOL booked at 37+0 ....watch this space. I'm unsure as to whether I will get any answers about why, but the pregnancy is labelled SGA not FGR.