IUGR concerns...more of a stressed out vent

mspatche

HI Ladies,

The last two growth scans for my twins have shown evidence of IUGR.

At 32 weeks they were in the 7th and 10th percentiles for growth. This past weeks growth scan ( 34 weeks 4 days) showed them in the 5th and 6th percentiles for growth ( 4lbs 5 ounces, 4lbs 6 ounces).

My doctor has decided to wait 2 weeks for the results of the next growth scan, instead of taking the babies now.  I have a scheduled c-section set for 37 weeks 4 days. My doctor is on vacation the week before, and will be on vacation when this next growth scan is done (36  week 4 days)

 In a local meetup group a woman with a simliar situation @ 34 weeks, her doctor chose to take the babies through a scheduled induction.

Although I really like my doctor, I feel a strong sense of panic over this entire situation, and am wondering if my doctor is being too lax. And the right thing for my girls is to come out of me, so they are getting all the nutrition they need.

 Did any of you deal with IUGR? I am just so concerned about the long term effects this could have, and I find myself second guessing everything.

 thx for listening....

Maggie

Haven1

First, {{hugs}}.  Second, yes, that is extremely scary.  We had a similar situation with baby A around the same time.  Growth u/s between 33-34 weeks showed a significant drop-off in his weight to below 10%.  They sent me to a peri to check umbilical cord blood flow and size.  She too confirmed baby A was much smaller.

Once they started throwing around words like "increased risk of still birth", I flipped out.  Bawling mess.  The appointment ended with, "while we don't need to take the babies NOW... we do need to take them tomorrow morning."  More freaking out.  I hadn't even logged off my computer at work that day.

We had a c/s the next morning at 34w5d, and thankfully the size estimates for A were off by quite a bit.  A was 4-9 and B was 4-13.  They spent almost two weeks in the NICU.  In the end, I wish I could have let them cook for a few more weeks, but I'm glad they were cautious and took them when they did.

My advice is to be your own advocate.  This is your body and your babies.  Perhaps there's a specialist your doc can recommend since they'll be out of town and all? 

Very very best wishes to you.  For me, I was almost lucky that all the scary stuff happened so fast.  I'm not sure what I would have done if I had to marinate on it for weeks.

Leigh71

((HUGS)) from me too....

I guess I had a little different situation.... but did have a baby with IUGR.  Early in my pregnancy I had a SCH.  Subchorionic hematoma... and was worried about baby A, where the bleeding was occuring.  I was very worried about my baby A...and asked millions of questions about her cord.  I was so worried, as you said, about her getting nutrition.  The high risk OB kept 'poo-poo-ing' my worries and concerns and told me she was "fine".  He mentioned something about her "cord insertion"...

I went home and Googled and FREAKED out.    I had read up on velementous cord insertion and the high risk of death at delivery....(and that for safety, the babies should be taken c-section).  again... he dismissed my worries and told me vag delivery would be fine... they just needed to 'watch her'....and he really "didn't think she had velamentous cord insertion". 

Fast forward to 30 weeks.... I went into PTL.  I did everything possible to keep the girls in.... went to ER. ....was put on mag sulfate...admitted to the hospital... etc.  If that wasn't scary enough....they sent me home on strict bedrest, and the doctor continued to say "don't worry."  I was worried.... 24/7.  How could I not worry...and I was contracting every 3 to 6 minutes.  This continued for 2 weeks.  contractions and all.

At 32 weeks.... I was back in the ER.... thinking... (I would get an IV...meds...and go home again).  No.  I was dilated to 4cm and they said no meds, I would have to deliver.  I cried.  I was so worried and felt like such a failure for not keeping the girls in.

Fast forward again to the OR....  as I'm on the delivery table....The OB resident said, "were you worried about A having velementous cord insertion?"   "Yes."  I replied.  "Is she ok?"  The doctor said.... A is fine.... but B is very, very small.  SHE is the one with velamentous cord insertion.  It's B. "   The day before this jerk of a high risk doctor/OB told me the weights were 3# and 3#2oz .... It wasn't!!!  A was almost 5 pounds...and B was 3#.  Thank God they took my baby B, Kate, via c-section.  (I delivered A, Lauren, vaginally). 

I knew something wasn't right for weeks because B was always kicking me...and I mean about 18 hrs. a day...as if to tell me something was wrong.  I'm sorry this is so long, but I did have concerns.  He ignored me... and I wish he would have scheduled to take the babies.  Kate is still tiny, but she is doing well.  Lots of emotions with knowing what is the right thing to do.... to keep them in cooking.... or have them out, if they need assistance.

((hugs)) again... and I agree with the PP, to be your own advocate.  I wish you the best, and hope you keep us posted.

mspatche

thx so much for sharing your stories ladies. Your stories just hit the nail on the head that I need to do what I think is best for these babies.

I really, really feel like my doctor isn't taking this seriously enough. I am going to call the office tomorrow, and schedule some time to discuss options with her.

I definately want to get a second opinion from a MFM, from my perspective its better for these babies to be getting full nutrients outside of my body vs reduced nutrients inside.

Thx again, this has been such a stressful time, and your kind words are wonderful., I will keep you posted!

Leigh71

mspatche:

I definately want to get a second opinion from a MFM, from my perspective its better for these babies to be getting full nutrients outside of my body vs reduced nutrients inside.

 I agree w/you about a 2nd opinion/and/or talking to your doc. sorry my post was so long.