IUGR Baby... Coming at 4lbs, 10oz next Monday

missamelia5 · May 2011

Hi ladies,

I almost feel guilty posting on this board because I know that several of you are going through some very difficult things... However, we found out today that our baby's growth percentile has dropped below 5% and my fluid is low. They are inducing us next Monday (37 weeks, 1 day). I realize it could be worse, but I'm still scared and worried that she won't be okay and that she's not ready. I can't even imagine what a 4 pound baby looks like... and will her lungs be okay? I'd love to hear success stories or other advice from those of you who have been there....

jesss1022 · May 2011

My son was IUGR, born at 36 weeks, 4lbs 5oz. He did not have any lung trouble. The only thing he had wrong (besides being tiny) was his blood sugar was extremely low, and he was on medication to control that. He was in the NICU for two weeks, but it was due to the blood sugar issue. That wasn't related to the IUGR, that was due to my becoming a diabetic during labor(!) He was perfectly normal in every other way:) Now he is an average sized 11 month old, on track with all of his milestones, and hasn't had any sugar issues since he was a month old. GL to you:) T & P to you and your LO!

mt1927 · May 2011

no IUGR but i was pre-eclamptic, my DS was born last week at 28wks. he was 2lb 4 oz and very healthy for his age. he is dealing with the typical preemie issues but doing well so far. he will be in the NICU for awhile.

a friend had her baby at 36/37 weeks and her DD was a little over 4lbs. she was induced, had a vaginally delivery and went home with the baby 2 days later.

thinking of you.

Zeedling · May 2011

I can feel what youre going through. Im 34 weeks (will be 35 weeks on wed) and at week 32 my baby was at the 5th percentile. I was put on bed rest and now at 34 weeks he is up to the 13th percentile. I have NSTs once a week and ultrasounds once a week and so far everything looks ok, just a small little guy. Did they put you on bedrest?

missamelia5 · May 2011

No bedrest... I was surprised. I asked if there was anything I could do, back a few weeks ago when we were still 10% or so and they said no, that it couldn't really be helped. I wonder if that would have changed anything...

lujain · May 2011

I was induced at 37w2d for severe pre-e (I also had GD). DD was 5 lb flat, and we found out after she was born that we had IUGR. She came out screaming bloody murder and had no problems with her lungs. Her Apgars were great, at 9s. She had some folds of skin with not enough fat underneath, but she was super cute nonetheless. She had a great appetite and doubled her birthweight in 5 weeks.

jessrenee11 · May 2011

I had DD at 37 week 2 days and she was 4lbs 9oz. She was tiny but perfectly healthy and we took her home 2 days later We had no NICU stay and she never even left our room She is now % months old and developmentally right on track with her age group and is now in the 50%tile for her weight. Honestly she didn't look as small as I thought she was going too. I was expecting a short baby with a big head (because they kept telling me her body was 4 weeks behind her head) but honestly she just looked really skinny with skin folds all over. Ill admit I thought she was beautiful but a little creepy looking too Embarrassed

IUGR babies usual thrive once they are outside the womb because they are not getting the nutrition then need from the placenta so its pointless for them to stay inside. Just trust your dr. to make the best choices for you and baby

madybug · May 2011

My dd was born at 36 weeks and weighed 4# 10 oz. She looked like a plucked chicken but her lungs were fine. She came out crying and no nicu or blood sugar problems. She had some issues feeding but nothing serious. Originally I pumped and supplemented but she wasn't gaining much so I switched to just formula and by 1 monthshe was 8 #. she is doing great.

mrsbnlmel · May 2011

My son was born at 35wks 3 days and he was 4lb 10oz. I had hypertension leading up to severe pre-e so he was a little small but did not have IUGR. We were expecting a baby around 5.5lbs so he was quite a surprise! He fit well into preemie clothing and diapers to give you a sense of the size. With that said they are totally unnecessary and they will be just as happy swimming in newborn size for a couple of weeks!

I did have the benefit of steroids for his lungs, but he had no real issues with breathing. At that size the main concern is having the energy to eat without getting too tired and keeping their temp up since they don't have a lot of body fat. We just had to make sure he was swaddled well and supplemented his breast milk with extra calories for weight gain in the beginning. They grow so fast though, at 18 months he is now in the 27th% for height and 37% for weight!

Good luck with everything and try not to be too worried.

jcsumm0 · May 2011

I responded to you over on June moms that we are in a similar situation. I've had the steriod shot to help lungs develop and we are doing an amnio to determine lung maturity before we deliver. Maybe you could ask your doctor if either of those would be advised for you?

GL!!

lauraua · May 2011

I was pre-eclamptic and delivered at 36.5 weeks. My daughter weighed 4 lbs. 7 oz. She was perfect. She did not spend one second in the NICU and we went home three days later. She is one years old now and weighs almost 21lbs. She looked like a cute little tiny baby. She didn't look unhealthy or anything. The ulatrasound that I had done before I had her said that she would weigh 5.5 lbs. We were shocked too, but she was just fine!

rainlily · May 2011

One of my best friends and I were lucky to be pregnant at the same time with our first babies. Her LO was supposed to be born in the middle of July. She had an emergency c-section at 32 weeks due to low fluids, and severe IUGR. Her LO was measuring a month behind. He spent several weeks in the NICU and then went home. He will be celebrating his second birthday next month- a happy, healthy little boy!

Best of luck to you. I hope everything goes well. I'll be thinking of you and your LO on Monday.

MereMM7 · May 2011

I can't tell you all how reassuring all these post are. I have never posted on this board before, but this past wednesday we had a growth US which showed our baby below the 10th percentile, with one measurement of the "Head" (of all measurements) being around the 2nd percentile. We found out all of this friday afternoon, our OB said he thought maybe there was an error in the reading, but monday evening (yes we waited all weekend to know b/c the radiologist left at 12noon on friday) the radiologist confirms the reading, stating baby is possibly IUGR. The most confusing thing is one head measurement is 10th percentile while the second is 2-3rd percentile....and to top it off the babys weight is 5lb (they say give or take 12 oz), which would be 20th percentile. How can you be below the 10th percentile but then weigh at 20th percentile? long story short, so now im 37wks and 2 dys, US was at 36 wks and 4 dys, having FNST twice a week and another US next week to compare growth. I guess if baby doesnt grow they may take baby.

I know this is a rambling post but I can barely sort it all out in my head. It is nice to hear that other babies with IUGR did well. Does anyone remember if they had Assymetrical or Symmetrical IUGR?

leighann526 · May 2011

I was induced at 35 weeks 2 days due to low fluids. She was 5lbs 4 oz, but was measuring 4lbs 11oz by ultrasound, so your LO might be bigger than expected. Everything was great untill the day we were suppose to be discharged. Our bags were packed and in the car, discharge papers in hand, DH has LO in her carseat ready to go when she had her first Apnea spell (stop breathing) and turned blue, off to the NICU she went for 10 days. We learned that Apnea is common in premies and starts to show 48 hours after delivery. Before I was induced the neonatologist came to talk with us to prepare us for what could happen. They never mentioned Apnea so you might want to keep that in mind. Even though she had to stay in the NICU for 10 horrible days hooked up to monitors I'm glad her first spell happened before we got home. Can you imagine your newborn baby turning blue? It scares me to think what if we would have been home and she stopped breathing while in her bed.

Good luck! Whatever happens, stay positive and before you know it your little bundle of joy will be at home keeping you awake in the middle of the night for months to come.

618mom22boys · May 2011

I'm late to the game but I've had 2 IUGR babies.

DS2 was born at 38 weeks due to IUGR and low fluid. He was 3 lbs 15 oz and spent 5 days in the NICU. And that was just to make sure he put his birth weight back on. He came home at his tiny 3lbs 15oz. He is now 3 and 56lbs. We actually go to the doc Monday for testing regarding his weight. He ismy lil guy in the siggy.

And our newest DS3 was born at 36 weeks also to IUGR and low fluid. He was 4lbs 10oz. He spent no time in the NICU but did have to get his tan on due to jaundice. He is now 9 months and 19 lbs 8oz.

neither of my boys have had any other complications from IUGR. Good luck to you.

ajsuhayda · October 2013

Hi Ladies,

My wife and I just had twin boys on Friday. Baby B was diagnosed with IUGR and it was very scary. But let me tell you.. he is a little trooper! They were delivered via C-section at 35 weeks and 4 days and are both doing wonderfully. Amazingly, the little guy had an easier time adjusting than our normal sized boy.

He was born 3lbs 6oz and 17". He needed no oxygen and didn't require a feeding tube. Now he's eating, peeing and pooping like a maniac! Things are looking very bright for him (albeit he is only 3 days old!)

I know this is a very scary situation, but rest assured that your LO will most likely turn out just fine. Those little guys are a lot tougher than you think. Just breath!

SoMoNY · October 2013

IUGR mom here.

DS arrived at 34 weeks weighing 3 pounds 9 ounces and was 15" long.

Did great in NICU and today is a vibrant 3.5 year old who is over average height and weight.

IUGR babies catchup quickly! Good luck

hjweber · October 2013

My DD was born at 34w5d (no IUGR) due to spontaneous PTL. She was 4lb15oz. She was normal length (19.5 in). She came out screaming and was just a skinny baby. She was perfectly healthy and only needed 12 days in the NICU (long for me as a parent, but a relatively short stay in general) to make sure she had the suck/swallow reflex down and that she could maintain her body temp. She's a smart, healthy 2 year old today. You'll be in my T&Ps.

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