20 week scan - smaller than average baby :(

[jwiggles]

Yesterday we ahd our 20 week scan which was totally different from the 12 week one... firstly I couldnt make head nor tail of what I was looking at on the screen and it was all very confusing, so had to keep asking the sonographer as she didnt say much...
We didnt want to know the sex so I guess she was working around that, and also the baby was lying in a strange position so couldnt get any good pictures or views.
Basically the upshot is that everything is working fine (good news) but the baby was measuring smaller than average (not so good news). She didnt change the dates as said it wasnt as much as 7 days out, but all the readings are less than the average.
So...now im worried!
My husband is 6ft 5 and was a big baby at birth and I was average (7lb 10) so why do we have a little one?
Will it get bigger?
Have I done something to stunt its growth?

Anyone else been told they have 'small' babies?

All 3 of my babies have been small.

All around 6lb at birth, they're still small for their age but healthy

I don't know about the size but I know the 12 wk scan was so different to the 20wk one, the sonographer warned us that it would be less clear as they were checking certain bits (such as kidneys, lungs etc...) rather than the whole baby, we didn't find out the sex either so she told us to look away at that bit! I couldn't see the screen from where it was angled anyway so relied on DH and sonographer to fill me in. Our dates didn't change even though she said they could of. I guess what I'm trying to say is if they were concerned they would have offered later scans to check but as I presume they didn't try not to worry and enjoy your healthy baby!

Don't worrk, all babies are individuals. I have two DD's, one has always been on 91st percentile (born 4 weeks early), the other on the 9th (full term).

To measure age from a scan they assume that all babies follow average growth curves - and then do their best to take a measurement of crown-rump-length, femur length, head circumference and see where they fall on the average curves. At 12 weeks that gives an error of +/- 1 week as babies only grow at a constant rate to about 8 weeks.

If your LO is measuring just 7 days below the mean average at 20 weeks I really really don't think there's anything to worry about. And it may not even mean you'll have a slightly (and slightly is the operative word) smaller baby at birth - it could just mean the scan was taken just before your baby had a growth spurt.

Have a chat with your MW at your next appointment, but focus on the results that show all the right bits are in the right places and working normally

I was 7lb 7oz, DH was 7lb 3oz and very solidly built now - DS was only just over 5lb when he was born and is now snoozing gently on my lap, perfectly contented.

TBH if the sonographer was happy with everything apart from size, I wouldn't worry too much but get clued up on your facts. Are you going to have a follow-up appointment with a consultant? If not, I would ask your midwife for a list of things to look out for and find out exactly what support is available to you, especially once your LO is born. Some hospitals have special postnatal wards for mums with babies who don't need to go to the SCBU but do need a little extra help.

That's the thing about averages - half will be bigger, half will be smaller

I've had 1 average-sized and 2 tiny babies. All are healthy (touch wood) 12, 10 and 4 years on, and their size at birth has proved to be no indication of their height later on.

Don't worry!

When pregnant with DD they told us at te 20 wk scan that she was small and got scanned every 4 weeks consequently. In the last monthof pregnancy every week actually and they wanted to induce 5 days before term. as in your case, everything else was working absolutely fine adn I refused the induction. DD was born 40+4 and she weighed 6.5 and in perfect health. Noe, at 9 weeks, she's 5.480 kg (2.980 kg at birth) and she's healthy. I was extremely worried as well, and I am really annoyed with the hospital for putting me through it as DD was healthy, but I guess they were covering their back sides in case something went wrong. go to the subsequent scans (guessing they asked you to) and as long as LO is growing, be happy. think of the fact that you won't have to push out a 10 pounder . enjoy your pregnancy (easier said than done under the circumstances, i know) and don't worry too much, it won't help the baby at all. as long as the placenta and the umbilical cord do their job, your baby will be fine!!

keeping fingers crossed for you [kiss]

I posted the opposite thread in a panic a few weeks ago, as I was told that my baby was 8.5lb at 35 weeks!

Everyone reassured me that growth scans aren't accurate, and as someone else said - someone's got to be at the top of the scale, and someone else at the bottom!

I just had a follow up scan yesterday and he's measuring 9lb 2oz at 38 weeks, so whilst I'm prepared for a big one, I'm just pleased there aren't any problems health-wise.

If she hasn't re-dated you because there is less than 7 days difference from 'average' then I really really wouldn't worry.

You could just be heading for a baby born on the 25th rather than the 75th centile, or it could be that your dates are just a few days out.

All sounds fine to me, please don't worry Congratulations!

At my 20 week scan with this one, his head was a week ahead, his leg a week behind and his stomach pretty much bang on.

Really nothing to worry about unless it is weeks out.

DS was 2.5 weeks too big at 20 weeks - and was 7 lb 7 oz born.

DD was around 10 days too small at 20 weeks and was nearly 9 pounds at birth!

If she didnt even change the dates, let alone call you back for follow up scans I really doubt there is anything to worry about

Thank you ladies, feel a little more reassured now...
They didnt ask me to go back for more scans so I guess this is a good thing too, and overall im just being a bit neurotic - first time mum syndrome!
I will focus on the baby being healthy bit, and maybe get a private scan in about 10 weeks time for a bit more reassurance!

Just having a look at my growth chart from my 20 week scan. These charts show a line for the average and then 1 line above and 1 line below giving the upper and lower limits for what is considered to be "normal". If you are measuring 7 days under then it looks like you are still well within this normal range. Do you have an appointment with consultant to discuss the results? At my hospital this was standard procedure, so if they offer this then you can discuss your concerns then. On the other hand if you don't have one because your hospital only makes consultant appointments if there is something that actually needs to be discussed, then that's a good sign? If they are worried they will ask you to go for a growth scan at about 27-28 weeks. And from this point onwards they will measure your uterus at MW appointments to get an idea of the size of the baby. Although this seems to be a bit hit and miss - was measured last week and told I was measuring small by 2 weeks, but at my growth scan today baby was bang on average for everything. Don't fret! And congratulations!!

I had my 20 week scan 2 weeks ago and the baby was measuring small:down near 5th centile for all measurements execpt femur length (which was around 25th). My midwife explained it to me using a shoe size analogy.......my friends size 3 feet are just as normal as my midwifes' size 8 feet. I was still a little concerned, but today was scanned again due to the babys' awkward position last tome and in 2 weeks it has rocketed up the centiles...... my midwife said that centile positions can change in a matter of days and Now i can see what she meant!I know have a long string bean of a baby with long legs and a teeny head ( everything apart from head circumference is well over the 50th centile). Hope this helps to further reassure you

So much worry is caused by scans - I sometimes think they cause as much angst as reassurance!

I include myself in this. I was told all though my pg with DS1 that he was measuring big - I was tested for gestational diabetes and brought in for several additional scans.

A few days before my DD I went in as I felt his movements had reduced, and they decided to induce me - one of the reasons being that he was so big anyway!

Well, he came out, and he was a very modest 6lb 13oz. I am 35 weeks now with DD-to-be, bigger than I was with DS and they're not taking the slightest interest in her growth or size!

My parents are both very tall - I was 6lb-something when born and my brother was 9lb-something. We're both now very tall as adults. As you can see, it really is totally arbitrary.

Do not worry. I have to agree with 5DollarShake about too many scans. They decided that our bump was too small, and given previous history, we were asked to come in for another scan. That one showed legs too short, so another scan. The next one was head too small, so another scan. The abdominal circumference was too small,so conversation about induction early, and yet another scan. It was SO SO stressful, and we were on fortnightly scans for 3 months. DS was born on time, weighing in at 7lb, and is now on 98th percentile height and weight.

Just found out I am expecting again and have vowed that we'll have nuchal scan and 20 week, but no others, as I am not going through that all again. I thnk they start looking for problems, and too much information is not necessarily a good thing.