Poor fetal growth

kolmuros

Hi all,

I had a routine OB appt today and was told that I am measuring small and need to get an ultrasound this week. I've had a pregnancy with little issues so far (thankfully), so this is freaking me out a little bit. I'm 25 weeks.

Has anyone had this occur before? Were any issues identified? What questions should I be asking?

Thanks for your help!

ElizabethSwann

Was this based just off your fundal height?

kolmuros

Yes. He said my uterus was sitting really low.

lilann2011

How far off were you? I was always a cm off with my last pregnancy and I got 2 extra ultrasounds at the end and he was fine, just a little on the smaller side but they said as long as he didn't drop below 5% I believe it was ok.
He ended up coming out 7lb6oz so perfectly fine!

be888

I wouldn't worry too much about it until you have the ultrasound. Fundal height is not a very accurate measure of fetal growth. I always measured bigger with my son because of amniotic fluid.

ElizabethSwann

OK, i mean it could be just the way you are carrying. A lot of people measure bigger or smaller. I always measured bigger, and had to get more ultrasounds. This time, a  little on the smaller side.

I wouldn't stress too much, and just hang in there until you get to see your baby!

RIngReady

Last pregnancy I was always told I was measuring really small and had u/s monthly starting at 6 months. and the concern was always  based on my fundal measurement (which is not a perfect measuring method) My fundal height actually stopped increasing at 28 weeks. 

My Dr. was just wanted to keep checking to make sure amniotic fluid was okay, baby's growth was okay and baby's position was appropriate. 

There was never any real issue. I have 'wonderful' Germanic hips so baby was just able to spread out a little wider versus going out/up. I just thought of it as a lucky opportunity to see baby once a month. 

FWIW I had a 7lb 11 oz healthy baby, gave birth vaginally and never had any issue. 

Amandysergio

I was measuring small with DD and always had growth ultrasounds every 3-4 weeks and my last one at 35w said she was 5lb4oz, in one of the smaller percentiles and ended up being 6lb7oz at 38 weeks and perfectly healthy. I wouldn't worry too much. Fundal height is unreliable itself to detect the growth of the baby but it's good your doc is on top of it. Enjoy the extra ultrasound... That's what I always did to take my mind off the stress/"what ifs". Good luck.

miracle4x

kolmuros said:

Hi all, I had a routine OB appt today and was told that I am measuring small and need to get an ultrasound this week. I've had a pregnancy with little issues so far (thankfully), so this is freaking me out a little bit. I'm 25 weeks. Has anyone had this occur before? Were any issues identified? What questions should I be asking? Thanks for your help!

At my 20 week ultrasound, my doctor said he thought baby was measuring small and wanted me to come back in 4 weeks to do another ultrasound to check for growth. I was slightly nervous, but didn't think about it much because I could tell baby was growing. Turned out that there was indeed 4 weeks' worth of growth at the next ultrasound, so my doctor was not concerned.

I wouldn't worry too much. Especially if he's just going by your uterus. Hope everything turns out OK at your ultrasound!

CivilMommy

Don't freak out until you actually have the ultrasound.  Fundal height can be really innacurate.

Was everything ok at your anatomy scan?

CivilMommy

In the ultrasound  (hopefully a level 2 with an experienced tech under supervision of a MFM clinic),

I would ask about all the measurements they use to calculate average size (head, abdomen, legs, arms).  Also ask what you amniotic fluid level is - is it in normal range, low, high?

Do you have a 2 or 3 vessel cord (should have been identified at anatomy scan)?

Are there any developmental markers they are looking for (like practice breathing, certain movements) and is baby on track with those?

How do the organs look?  They will likely check the heart and bladder again to make sure they are functioning/sized properly.

What %-tile is baby in?  average, low end of average, small, really small...if small...what can you do to help?  eat more? drink more fluids? bed rest/low activity?

If you are below a certain %age you may be classified as IUGR.  If that happens - ask more questions.

I've had about 10 growth scans having been HR with #1 & #2.  In my experience I can see the screen the whole time and the techs answer my questions about the things I see.  The Perinatologist comes in after the scan is over an explains anything significant.

Good Luck - I hope you get news that you just carry small and that baby is healthy and thriving in there.

smish82

Me! Baby is measuring 5 days behind my previous scan (6 weeks ago) based on average of measurements from what I understood. I was a little ahead on the curve and now I am a little behind, so the trajectory concerns me. Dr thinks I need to up my protein intake (I primarily eat vegetarian food, so not too much of a surprise). But he did mention that due date variation of +/- 15 days is perfectly normal, and babies have different growth spurts so the next scan could be different. Will be piling on the proteins and request a growth scan in 4 weeks to reassure myself! GL with your scan! Will be thinking of you.

anna&jl2011

When I was pregnant with DS at 36 thur 38 weeks my fundal height didn't change. So they did an ultrasound and he was measuring 5 lbs 9 Oz which was under 5%. So my dr recommended me being induced at 39 weeks which is what I did. He weighed 6 lbs 13 oz and was perfect.

kolmuros

Thank you, everyone... especially for the encouragement. This was so helpful. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Thea11

Yes, this happened to me last time.  I ended up having 4 extra ultrasounds because my fundal height was too small (can't remember how much by now, but it wasn't within the normal range of fluctuation.)  The u/s showed that everything was measuring perfectly except for his head, which was only in the 10th percentile.  So they kept checking and in the end he came out 7lbs 3 oz and looking totally proportional.  And then his head caught up and surpassed the rest of his measurements!  

JJBoden

My first baby was IUGR. They took him at 38 weeks die to poor growth. He was 5 pounds 17.5". He is a totally healthy 8 1/2 year old. ( well he's on growh hormones.. He stayed time. They work though and he's normal size in them) they never told me why he measured small and stopped growing. Good luck! Try not to worry too much. Lots can change between now and delivery

court476

They told me with my first that he was gonna be a small baby because of fetal growth measurements about a week to two weeks before I delivered but said not to worry. He ended up being 8.4...

I wouldn't worry too much. Just so long as your baby is happy, healthy, and very loved!

JaneShops

Try not to worry too much, & hope you hear good news at the U/s