Measuring too small!

ashleighjade90

Hi everyone,

I know I've been a nuisance posting on here all the time but I need some advice/help.

So this morning I had my 36wk midwife check up. I'm actually now 36wk +2 days. When I've been to see her she said I'm only measuring at 33 weeks! So has suggested I see her now every week to check his progress!

Aparantly on my records it's shown that I've always measured 2 weeks to small but now it's showing 3 weeks to small. But they have just advised me to go next week for another growth check. What if I go and it's still the same? What will they do does anyone know?

Has anyone else had this? And is there anything I should be doing to help him grow? Like eating more or anything??

Sorry if I'm annoying people I'm just completely clueles!!!

Gingermom15

Was this via ultrasound or belly measurements? Belly measurements this late can be very inaccurate if baby has dropped.

My baby was diagnosed to IUGR at 36 weeks. He was measuring asymmetrical and 4 weeks behind. When it's asymmetrical it is usually considered a placenta insufficiency, so I was induced at 37 weeks 2 days after two NST's and another ultrasound. He weighed 4 lbs 13 oz and was 17 1/2 inches. I believe he was 6 or 7th percentile when he was born, he was very tiny and weak. He didn't handle labor well at all and had to be an emergency cesarian. His blood sugar was low and it took him a little little bit to be able to regulate his temperature.

Honestly, who knows why this happens. I never drank, stayed away from smoke in all forms, ate healthy, took my vitamins, exercised and slept well. Nothing I did could have prevented his growth restriction. It isn't your fault. Unfortunately this is one of those situations where you do everything by the book and something still goes wrong. The good news is they DO catch up Henry spent a day and a half in the NICU before being released to my room and was jaundiced the first week. We struggled with breastfeeding but finally got the hang of it and at 8 weeks as of yesterday he has nearly tripled his birthweight. IUGR babies may stay small for a little bit but they thrive once they start receiving the nutrients they were missing.

ashleighjade90

Hiya thanks for the reply, yeah it was by belly measurements I am there to see my consultant next week and they said he will decide what to do: however they didn't explain what they meant by this??

I just have no idea what to do or what I should be doing right now.

He was only small then wasn't he at 37 weeks weighing 4lb I judt want everything to be okay with him I really do.

618mom22boys

*Lurking from 1st tri**

I have had this happen with two of my pregnancies.   I had Oligohydrominos (low fluid) with both of them and they were both IUGR.   They had no clue what caused it. 

DS2 was born at 39 weeks and was 3lbs 15oz.  He spent 5 days in the NICU to feed and grow and came home at his birth weight. He has had no complications what so ever.  He is actually on the other end of the spectrum now at 7 and 110lbs!

DS3 was born at 36 weeks and was 4lbs 10oz.  He spent 4 days in the NICU to feed and grow and he was also jaundice.  He is now a happy healthy 55lb 5 year old.  

Gingermom15

ashleighjade90 said:

Hiya thanks for the reply, yeah it was by belly measurements I am there to see my consultant next week and they said he will decide what to do: however they didn't explain what they meant by this??

I just have no idea what to do or what I should be doing right now.

He was only small then wasn't he at 37 weeks weighing 4lb I judt want everything to be okay with him I really do.

Will your consultant do an ultrasound? They probably mean he will decide whether or not to induce based on findings from that.

It's really the worst feeling finding out something isn't going the way it should. I remember how horrifying it felt and honestly, the anticipation to get him out was the hardest part. Once he was here and I saw he was doing well I finally relaxed. The only thing to do is wait. I took my mind off it by shopping for a few preemie clothes and fixing up/rearranging some things in his bedroom. Get into a book if you like to read or a tv show on Netflix and try to take your mind off it. Babies are incredibly resilient and I'm 100% yours will be perfect

ashleighjade90

They've not said anything about what the consultant is going to do but I'm going to make sure that they are aware I want them to check absolutely everything before I go home!

So do you think they may suggest inducing me if they find that he is too small? They don't really explain much. I've rung up about half hour ago to ask for more details and they said that the consultant will check everything then the week after they will have a growth check again. I just want him out now I feel useless him been inside and not growing atleast when he's out he will have plenty of people taking care of him

OctoberStars

My belly is measuring about 5 weeks small, but he's 33 percentile by ultrasound measurements so my ob is not concerned. She says that I'm just "carrying well" which may be due to my long torso and the fact that his head has been low since 20 weeks. Until you get measured on ultrasound, try not to worry.

ashleighjade90

Thank you feel better now about It. I just don't think of questions to ask when I'm there I go all silent and don't really know what they mean and Everytime I ring them it's always engaged. Don't know what I'd of done this pregnancy without you all haha xx

Gingermom15

I don't know what they will recommend if he is measuring small via ultrasound, but getting induced is what they did for me. It sounds like they are monitoring you and if they were really worried you would likely have gotten an ultrasound and an NST the same day. Think of it as a good thing that you are waiting around because it's not an emergency. It also sounds like you will have a good team waiting on your baby's entrance and I'm sure he will receive the best care.

@618mom22boys it's awesome your boys have thrived so well! I'm starting to wonder if mine won't end up on the other end of the spectrum, also. He's tripled his birthweight at 8 weeks. His arms and legs have little rolls on top of bigger rolls and his cheeks are crazy. Compared to his newborn photos he is unrecognizable.

Gingermom15

ashleighjade90 said:

Thank you feel better now about It. I just don't think of questions to ask when I'm there I go all silent and don't really know what they mean and Everytime I ring them it's always engaged. Don't know what I'd of done this pregnancy without you all haha xx

Keep a pen and notepad handy and wrote down questions to ask as you think of them. No question is too silly or unimportant when it comes to your baby's health. If you don't know what they mean ask them to explain!

SarahFoley725

Baby already takes what it needs from your body, so eating more won't do anything. I personally think the belly measurements are silly, just try not to worry. Baby may just be small!

Gingermom15

OP any more news?

ra002085

I have measured small all the way through, between 2-3cm at each appointment. Fundal height is a crude measurement really, and there can be lots of reasons why your carrying smaller than others. For example women with longer torso's and strong stomach muscles can be smaller (apparently this is the cause of my small bump) I didn't really show until 7 months.

I have not been offered a growth scan because of my lack of size, through manipulation my midwife has predicted a 7lbs baby, regardless of my smaller than average bump!

I do live in the UK and unless there are medical problems midwives take over as our primary care givers when pregnant

I hope your not worrying too much, hopefully there is nothing that needs addressing, but just wanted to put your mind at rest that being smaller doesn't always mean that there are problems

Good luck with the scan xx

ashleighjade90

I got my appointment through the post. I've got to go to a consultation appointment next Friday and then a growth check the following Monday. So to me that's them telling me everything is fine due to them not rushing me through

Thank you everyone

Gingermom15

Glad to hear it. Keep us updated

rosieschmozie

Gingermom15 said:

Was this via ultrasound or belly measurements? Belly measurements this late can be very inaccurate if baby has dropped.

My baby was diagnosed to IUGR at 36 weeks. He was measuring asymmetrical and 4 weeks behind. When it's asymmetrical it is usually considered a placenta insufficiency, so I was induced at 37 weeks 2 days after two NST's and another ultrasound. He weighed 4 lbs 13 oz and was 17 1/2 inches. I believe he was 6 or 7th percentile when he was born, he was very tiny and weak. He didn't handle labor well at all and had to be an emergency cesarian. His blood sugar was low and it took him a little little bit to be able to regulate his temperature.

Honestly, who knows why this happens. I never drank, stayed away from smoke in all forms, ate healthy, took my vitamins, exercised and slept well. Nothing I did could have prevented his growth restriction. It isn't your fault. Unfortunately this is one of those situations where you do everything by the book and something still goes wrong. The good news is they DO catch up Henry spent a day and a half in the NICU before being released to my room and was jaundiced the first week. We struggled with breastfeeding but finally got the hang of it and at 8 weeks as of yesterday he has nearly tripled his birthweight. IUGR babies may stay small for a little bit but they thrive once they start receiving the nutrients they were missing.

Hiya, I want to thank you for this comment. I'm also having growth scans since week 28 and Bubs comes up small (below 10th percentile) consistently. Induction is scheduled for 36+6 and I can't wait until she can start thriving as you described. Her expected weight at 37 weeks will be just under 2500 g. So hopefully she's on that and won't need any support. But, even if she does, she'll probably turn out fine. A lot more keen on having her out this early! Thanks again

And yes @ashleighjade90 keep us posted!