Measuring small

Cleo421

I posted here the other day about my di/di twins discordance rate (20%) and got some very reassuring feedback. Thank you so much for that. Upon looking at their report more closely, I'm now less worried about the discordance per se and more worried about baby girl's biometry measurements. She's in the 21st percentile overall for weight, but some of the individual measurements are concerning me (e.g., %tile for head circumference, 4th percentile for abdominal circumference, 5th percentile for BPD). I'm not sure why she's such a small baby so far, but the docs don't seem very concerned yet. Has anyone else had this experience? 

I didn't read the report closely enough during the visit in time for specific questions for the MFM, but we called OB this morning and were told some things that I could do that "might" help her grow. These include stopping all of my exercising, making sure I'm eating enough fruits and veggies (I do make sure I take in at least 2800 cal/day), resting as much as possible, esp. since I'm still working, and making sure I'm drinking at least 3 liters of water per day. DH thinks this is grasping at straws as MFM thinks it's just genetic b/c there were no placental problems seen, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes even if it might have no impact. Anyone else have experience with one very small baby or have any advice? Please don't hold back in letting me know if I'm making too much of the biometry or if telling me if I'm overreacting - that would actually be music to my ears! 

SWA80

My B was 2nd percentile on abdominal measurement but jumped to over 10th in 2 weeks. Measurement s aren't exact but I know they can be worrisome. Make sure you're getting tons of protein.

Cleo421

Your stories make me feel lots better! Thank you!

MissMandyD

Baby A is measuring 10 days behind and has IUGR. I took my protein intake up quite a bit. Won't know until Thursday if it is doing any good. 

Cleo421

MissMandyD said:

Baby A is measuring 10 days behind and has IUGR. I took my protein intake up quite a bit. Won't know until Thursday if it is doing any good. 

Good luck. Please keep us updated. I just saw in the Dr. Luke book she recommends something like 175g of protein/day and 3500 cal overall. That's nuts! But it does make me think that changing my diet can have a good effect. So far today I've had (amongst "regular" things) two zone bars, two high protein Ensures, and am eating quiche for dinner. My baby A is measuring 14 days behind, so I'm hoping this can help her even a little. You're in my thoughts.

Cleo421

MrsLee04 said:

Adding to your diet can't hurt, and it can make you feel like you have some control over the situation.  In my case, I took extra calcium and drank tons of milk....in my head, I thought if I took in more calcium, I could make DS's bones grow more!  I will say that at each u/s after that there was a definite increase (who knows if the extra calcium helped, but it made me feel like I was doing something).

Funny you say that! DH suggested the same exact thing! Drinking milk to help her bones grow. Who knows if it will have an impact, but there really is something to be said about the placebo effect.