12th Percentile at 28 Weeks

bbbianca2023

Hi all,
I went for an ultrasound at 28 weeks and a day. After this ultrasound my midwife told me that the baby is in the 12th percentile for weight. At 21 weeks my baby was at the 24th percentile. She assured me that all other measurements are normal and that we would follow up with another ultrasound in two weeks but I can’t help but worry about her size and how much nutrients she is receiving…and of course is this is gonna affect her at all. 

thoseboysmama

I know many women convinced to have c-section because baby is too "big". Baby comes out normal. I'd try to remember that medicine is amazing but not always accurate and to keep up what you're doing. 

Wishilivedinflorida

Sounds like they are doing the right thing and keeping close tabs. 

FWIW my baby had a 40th something percentile head at my anatomy scan and was born with 5th percentile measurements. I make small headed kids. Serial US is better than just one measurement but they can still be fairly inaccurate the further along you get. 

Is this your first baby? You may also just make small babies. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’m in that camp. I couldn’t make an 8 pound baby if my life depended on it. 

They will also measure your belly and probably have you  do kick counts at this point to make sure all is well. Try to relax and not worry too much and just follow your provider’s advice and stay nourished. You got this

bbbianca2023

this  is my first baby this is my first baby yes. She has always been on the smaller side, I just worry I’m not doing enough. I eat until I’m full and the anxiety of waiting another two weeks to see if she has grown bigger is getting to me. For anyone who can make sense of my ultrasound report. It is attached here. I appreciate your responses. Thank you 💗💗

inthewoods23

Don't worry about what you're doing. Baby will take the nutrients it needs to grow. And like PP said, some people just make small babies! My sister was baffled that a birthed a nearly 8lb baby as hers were both around the 7lb mark I think. Her youngest was definitely <7lb. My niece just is a peanut. Always has been. Also I had a boy who are normally bigger than girls (maybe that doesn't apply to birth weight though).

Don't worry too much about the measurements from week to week. My baby had a HC in the 22nd percentile one week and suddenly was down to the 7th percentile at the next ultrasound. OB didn't even say anything about it. Measurements at this stage are quite inaccurate because of how big babies are. Likely what happened with mine was that his head was so far down into my pelvis that they couldn't get the proper angle with the probe thereby making it seem like his head was very small. His HC at his monthly check ups is always above average.

I think what can help too is understanding what the actual values are at the different percentages. From what I can tell, the difference in weight between 50th percentile (the average baby) and yours at 12th percentile for 28 werks is like 100g which is not much different when you think about it.

knottieaeae39be2f471ca4

I’m going through the same thing. Baby measured 12th percentile at 24ish weeks so I’ve had to book ultrasounds for every 2 weeks. Heart was strong, my belly is measuring where it should be and blood flow from placenta to baby checked out fine. OB said it’s a precaution which I have to remind myself is a good thing but it is so alarming to hear. She said it just could be a genetically small baby, as I’m 5’3 and my mom 30 years ago was also told her babies are on the smaller side but still within the normal range. From what I’ve been told from other moms, these images can be off by 20-30%. We just have fo think about what is on our control. I’ve been more intentional about eating protein at each meal (I’ve mostly gravitated to carbs this pregnancy) and lots of fruit for snacks for nutrients. 

Wishilivedinflorida

Also read the conclusion on your report: size appropriate for dates. I wouldn’t worry unless ongoing tests show decline. 

bbbianca2023

Thank you so much for the responses. I understand that it says all is normal but yes just worried about the decline if I go to the next ultrasound. When they tested my placenta function earlier in pregnancy everything was fine but what kind of test did you do to measure the function recently?