24%tile:(

LucyGirl1998 · January 2015

Well I'm 32 weeks and 5 days and had to have a ultrasound today. My baby girl is to small:( only 3lbs 11 oz:( she is only 24%tile when 50% is normal:/ I have to go back twice a week until she is here and there talkin about me
Havin herr a feww weeks early so they can fatten her up:( I feel like it's my fault. Has anyone else had any problems like this?

BitsyBelle84 · January 2015

LucyGirl1998 said:

Well I'm 32 weeks and 5 days and had to have a ultrasound today. My baby girl is to small:( only 3lbs 11 oz:( she is only 24%tile when 50% is normal:/ I have to go back twice a week until she is here and there talkin about me Havin herr a feww weeks early so they can fatten her up:( I feel like it's my fault. Has anyone else had any problems like this?

QFP

mandi195 · January 2015

24th percentile isn't a huge deal from my understanding. Babies aren't "supposed" to be in the 50th, 50th is just average.

colleen4019 · January 2015

Also there is a 15% (or even greater in some cases) margin for error in those weight estimates.

finallyourturn2 · January 2015

Some babies are just small. Praying that's all it is.

It's crazy how much they are supposed to grow in 3 weeks. Just today (29 wks 6 days) one of my babies measured 3lbs 7oz and the doctor (perinatologist, not regular OB) called him fat (okay she said chunky but it felt like she said fat). She asked me like 4 times if I had GD.

stine28 · January 2015

Hi Lucy, hope you've been doing well. I've wondered about you the last few months!

From what I know about percentiles, 24% isn't too small at all. I'd consider getting a second opinion before I let them induce you early. How's your weight gain? Have you been eating enough for the two of you? Do they think it's something wrong with the placenta or something instead?

colleen4019 · January 2015

What's the logic in inducing early? Will the baby gain better on the outside? I'm off to google. I've never heard of this (except with twins when one gains and the other doesn't, which makes sense).

Whitfry · January 2015

My doctor says they don't worry until they get below the 10th percentile.

Baby J is in the 25th percentile at 32 weeks. I'm not worried because my doctor isn't worried. There's still plenty of time to grow.

ETA I can't see inducing for a small baby. That seems outrageous. You'd induce for a large baby. A small baby should stay in to grow bigger assuming there's not an evidence based medical reason to induce.

janda426 · January 2015

Aren't babies supposed to be around 4 pounds at that time? That doesn't seem that far off. I have an U/S Monday at 32w4d so I'll see where my boy is at. Don't let them induce you for that, if anything she should stay inside as long as possible to gain weight!

My mom was a teen mom and let them induce her with me for no reason, she wasn't even late yet! I feel like with younger moms they take advantage and want to do things on their time. Speak up for yourself and don't let them induce you weeks early unless there's some other reason proving she isn't thriving inside.

herewegoagain37 · January 2015

I just had a sono today and mine is measuring 31%. My doctor said they don't think anything of it unless it's less than 10%. But I am having growth sonos because of blood pressure issues. They are concerned with the the placenta providing enough blood for growth. But no one mentioned inducing anything. I would wait it out and see.

jarrard1983 · January 2015

My friend is only in the 3rd percentile. She mentioned that the doctor said that she could go into preterm labor.

LucyGirl1998 · January 2015

Thank you all for your opinions this calms me down a lot more. There was something about 15% and that if it was 17% she wouldn't even worrie about it but she is afraid my baby girl is loosin weight:/ I was kinda scared at the thought of them sayin they wanted me to have her early. I mean I didn't expect her to be big anyways cause how small I actually am I expected a small baby but I don't like the way there scarin me with this.

mangomimosa · January 2015

Yeah that's totally normal! I can't believe they're talking induction & twice weekly appts (unless there are other problems) -- hoping this resolved quickly & your docs calm down! You definitely want to start labor naturally if possible. Good luck!

Jlr025 · January 2015

I agree with PP's I'm a FTM but with the bleeding I experienced this week I had an US on weds and one on thurs at 2 different hospitals. The first one said LO was 2lbs 15oz and the second one said 2lbs 8oz, and that was less than 24 hours apart! There is obviously a margin for error and the doctor said different techs/facilities have different standards for measuring the baby.

dreyes4 · January 2015

I havent been told about percentiles with none of my pregnanies, only when they're born when they go for checkups. But i would be asking alot more questions or getting a second opinion.

djoliet · January 2015

My son was IUGR and started measuring behind at 32-33 weeks. He measured 2 weeks behind and I can't remember the percentile. I was already being monitored twice a week because of GD. My doctor ordered cord dopplering and kept doing ultrasounds before she made any decisions. Induction was never brought up until I was 36 weeks and she figured he'd do better out of utero. It's strange to me that a doctor would talk induction so early, especially after one ultrasound and no dopplering or anything like that. I was induced at 37 weeks and he was 5 lbs but perfectly healthy. Try not to worry too much. Doesn't sound like your little one is too far off.

Whitfry · January 2015

Because of my GD, I always ask the u/s tech about his measurements and percentiles. I know that some techs won't give details to patients, but ours are extremely informative and more than qualified to pass along the details. But I don't think they do unless you ask.

ur_mom222 · January 2015

The same thing is happening to me and the reasoning behind it is because if the baby isn't showing consistent growth between growth ultrasounds then there is more than likely something wrong. Could be the placenta not working efficiently and could be low weight gain in the mother, or I'm sure many other things. They induce these babies early because the risk of the placenta not working and getting the baby enough nutrients. They will only do that if it's completely necessary and she is developed enough though. What will happen, and what is currently happening to me, is Im going in every two weeks to chart her growth. If she is growing consistently between ultrasounds then she is just a small baby and that's okay. At least this is what my doctor has told me just a few days ago. It's a very stressful thing, make sure you're eating how your doctor tells you to hopefully help out your baby girl! T&p for you.

nlinscott11 · January 2015

Baby boy was measuring at the less than 3rd percentile 4 weeks ago. When that came up they brought up IUGR, possible early delivery and weekly Doppler scans. He is now at the 20th percentile and my doctors are thrilled! The doc at my last appt said the only reason they would be concerned anymore is if he dropped below the 10th again. I don't understand why your doctor is talking induction when baby is okay, unless you have other health problems. Definitely get a second opinion.... That seems REALLY fishy to me.

ur_mom222 · January 2015

They're probably just discussing the options they have with her if the baby isn't growing. If her baby shows consistent growth they should not be inducing her at all. But personally I wanted to know what the outcomes were if something was wrong so I could prepare myself either way. I'm pretty sure early delivery is worst case scenario.

AEmily · January 2015

My niece was taken early at 36 weeks because she wasn't growing enough. They were worried about her getting enough nutrients but couldn't figure out what the restriction was. When she delivered they sent my SIL's placenta to pathology and found that over 40% of it had already started to calcify. So baby wasn't getting enough by staying inside. Never knew why though. She was a peanut but always did great and is almost 3 now.

They too tracked growth and did twice weekly BPP's for over a month before they made the decision to take her early.

Edited because apparently my auto correct put in a different abriviation that what I meant!

poohniki · January 2015

24th percentile is still less than one standard deviation from the average. Typically anything one deviation from the center- up or down is considered average - so 16 - 84% would cover the most babies. I would get a second opinion. The tech measured the femur bone 3 times at my last MFM appointment one each time it changed the baby's weight by up to .75 lbs.

cafecreme · January 2015

Unless they found something medically wrong with you, then there's no reason to induce early.

My DD was always around the 25-30th percentile at growth, and came a week late at 7lbs. It should really be the opposite, and let that baby cook for as long as possible.

I hope everything else is good with you.

kellbell1982 · January 2015

Mine was in the thirtieth percentile a few weeks ago and they did act concerned and have ordered more ultrasounds but I didn't hear anything about early induction. Hope things work out for u

mangomimosa · January 2015

AEmily said:
My niece was taken early at 36 weeks because she wasn't growing enough. They were worried about her getting enough nutrients but couldn't figure out what the restriction was. When she delivered they sent my SIL's placenta to pathology and found that over 40% of it had already started to calcify. So baby wasn't getting enough by staying inside. Never knew why though. She was a peanut but always did great and is almost 3 now.

They too tracked growth and did twice weekly BPP's for over a month before they made the decision to take her early.

Edited because apparently my auto correct put in a different abriviation that what I meant!

This & several responses here are making me irrationally angry. Seriously, guys, 24th PERCENTILE IS COMPLETELY NORMAL!!!!! IUGR is not a concern until below 10th percentile & she's so far away from that, sharing tales about placental calcification & whatnot is completely absurd. Even if a baby is <10th percentile, chances are it is healthy and just small! Only like 30% are truly in a dangerous situation. Part of why pregnancy and birth are so terrifying in this country is this -- women and doctors sharing the worst case scenario stories and not ever focusing on the fact that - actually, the vast majority of women have NORMAL pregnancies. Things can & do go wrong, but Lucygirl's docs are on top of it. From what we've been told she has had one completely normal growth scan. AND her due date was changed - inaccurate dating may fully explain the "small" baby. Which is not small anyway - it's NORMAL.

Your comments are informative & well intended, I know. But Lucygirl is almost certainly carrying a COMPLETELY HEALTHY BABY!! It's like she said "My blood sugar was 71" and you were like "OMG once my sister had blood sugar of 29 and she almost died!" Let's be real here -- unless there is more we don't know, Lucy's baby is completely in the normal range. Yes, if she comes back next week and baby is now in 12th percentile - then we can talk more about complications.

@LucyGirl1998‌ - please try not to worry. 50% is AVERAGE --- normal is actually 10%-90%!!! I promise I'm not making this up

your docs are being extra cautious -- literally 1 of every 4 pregnant women has a baby that's the same size as your baby, or even smaller!!

stepherly · January 2015

I agree with PP - I would get a second opinion. I just had my 32w appointment Thursday. LO was measuring a little behind. (About 1 week behind overall and about 2 weeks behind in her abdominal area.) She was 3lbs 8oz and they weren't concerned about her weight, but they were a little concerned about her abdomen. I'll be monitored with weekly NST going forward, but there was no way anyone mentioned induction. LO should get to stay in there & grow as long as possible.

jack12trip · January 2015

I don't have any advice since no one has told us where we are behind or not yet. We haven't had an u/s since 20 weeks.

But I will say that I agree with PPs, and get a second opinion! And keep this in mind...you have to be the advocate your you and your baby. Your doctors and nurses are medical professionals and experts, but you are own champion. Do not be afraid to ask questions about what percentiles mean. At your next appointment ask some of the questions you asked us about the baby's weight or eating enough. Do not be afraid to ask, even if they seem like they're in a hurry.

We are always here to help share knowledge to the best of our ability, but definitely don't be afraid to ask your doctor when something scares or confuses you and especially if they're suggesting things like inducing early!

jacqueleen1 · January 2015

IUGR is not just a baby measuring less than 10th percent. There are other factors a mother must have to qualify. Your percentages seem fine. Especially since at this stage, ultrasound measurements are an estimate. That's why they give you two standard deviations of error. At this stage the baby is so cramped sonographers do the best they can to measure, but they are nowhere near 100% accurate. Please don't worry too much Lucy. I am sure your just small and it's nothing to worry about.

Also in regards to placenta. A 3rd trimester placenta normally has calcifications and venous lakes. That's how you classify a 3rd tri placenta

LucyGirl1998 · January 2015

Sorry I haven't updated everyone butt noww shee hass lost weight and they started me on thee steroid shots they said my placenta hass went into shock andd ain't doin it's job anymore they said they will be very suPrised if I carry 2 more weeks

cafecreme · January 2015

I'm sorry about your LO, Lucy. I hope she stays in there as long as possible!

mangomimosa · January 2015

Oh no! Well, I'm glad your doctors are on top of it-- try not to worry, babies usually do pretty well this far along! Here's to hoping she stays in as long as safely possible!

LucyGirl1998 · January 2015

Thank youu!

cafecreme · January 2015

LucyGirl1998 said:

Thank youu!

My babe a few days ago was measuring at the 29th percentile, and they didn't seem worried. My daughter also teetered on the 25-30% percentile pretty much up until delivery too. Hopefully they're on top of it and know what's going on (my guess is reverse blood flow?), I'm sure your Dr.'s know what's going on and make sure baby is safe.