Being induce b/c of low birth weight?

kat_trina12 · November 2011

Hi everyone this is my first pregnancy and my doctor just told me that my baby is in the 6th percentile for weight (he is about 5lbs so far) and said he is very small (below 10 percent I guess they start to worry). He said that because he is so small and not really growing much more he thinks it would be safer to have him out early since he won't really gain anymore weight staying in my belly. The are doing a special ultrasound at 37 weeks to make sure everything else is healthy, which so far they say it is and then they want to induce me soon after. I can't help but feel like I did something wrong because he is so small and I am a little worried. Is there anyone who had a similar situation? Or can give me any advice? I feel mentally unprepared and a little scared that something might be wrong and it would be my fault. I tried to be healthy during the whole pregnancy and the only thing I can think of is maybe I didn't eat enough, I have only gained 35 lbs, but I am a small person to begin with I start at 115 and weighed in today at 153 but I'm only 5'2". I just hope he is healthy and everything turns out fine.

MrsWilson93 · November 2011

You have gained a perfectly healthy amount of weight. This is not your fault. Sometimes the placenta just starts to fail early. Luckily we live in a time when this can be caught and your doctors will be able to get your baby out safely and make sure that nothing else is going on. Good luck. I am sure that everything will be ok.

Mom2Cinderella · November 2011

I wouldn't worry as long as lo is otherwise healthy and moving. You also gained a very normal amount of weight, so if lo is small, it is not something you did wrong. If you aren't even 37 weeks yet, I wouldn't consider 5 lbs to be critically small. When I was pg with DD1, they thought she was IUGR because they thought she was less than 5 pounds somewhere around 37 weeks. I had an additional ultrasound and they determined that she was small, but not IUGR so they did not induce. I had NST's 2x a week until I had her naturally at 38 weeks. When she was born at 38w1d she weighed 5 lbs 13 oz. If she had been born on her due date she probably would have gained a little more. So she was small, but otherwise healthy. To this day she is on the low end of the spectrum as far as weight and height. It is just her genetics. If you are only 5'2", your little one might just be smaller than average.

No matter what, your doctor will do what is best for your lo's health. Good luck.

goodgollie · November 2011

You didn't do anything wrong. Some girls just have small babies. I was in the exact same position as you with my DS except at 36 weeks he was born at 3 lbs. 10 oz. We were told a couple weeks beforehand that I would probably deliver early because of Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR), which is diagnosed if the baby is less than 10th percentile for growth, or they would be inducing me. I didn't want to be induced so they did non-stress tests twice a week and did the biophysical profile u/s (which is what it sound like they want you to have). Everything kept checking out fine until one night my water broke in bed. I had to have an emergency c-section because DS's heartrate kept dropping and they discovered that I have a unicornuate uterus (essentially half a uterus). Anyway, it sounds like your ob has a great plan in place. You are very fortunate to have a 5 pounder in there already and he should do just fine. DS only had to stay in the NICU for 12 days before we brought him home. I know its difficult to get news like that and be told to expect to have a baby weeks before you thought you would. I watched Baby Story like crazy for my two weeks of bedrest to try to mentally prepare myself. Please feel free to PM me if you want to chat or have any questions. Best of luck to you and your little guy. BTW, I suggest buying a few preemie sleepers and some diapers to have for the first couple weeks until he gets into newborn sizes.

pandabear12178 · November 2011

I am going in tonight to be induced for the same reason. I am 37 weeks and 2 days. Its nothing you did. It could be LO is just a small baby or placenta problems. They werent even sure if it was placenta related with me, just figured it was safer to have her out then in. And she will grow better outside. Also said if it is placenta related, things can get really bad really quick. So I am happy to be having her when I am. And at 37 weeks they are full term and fully developed. Its nothing you did momma so dont feel bad, and its really not a bad situation to have them out early. As long as shes healthy, I wouldnt worry about how fat she is

And like PP said, 5 lbs is not bad at all. Arianna was measuring at the 1 percentile for the longest time. At my 35 week she was 4lbs and 10oz.

rcanales · November 2011

If the Dr hasn't given you anything to worry about, then I wouldn't stress out. Some babies are just little. All of my siblings, myself included ranged from 5 1/2 lbs to 6 1/2 lbs at birth. My mom just had tiny babies. We were all healthy (well except for me, but that's because I was a footling breech and I ended up being fine).

sunandsand · November 2011

I was induced for low birth weight with my last pregnancy. I was 37w5d when I had him and he was 6lbs even. His birth weight was due to the fact that my blood pressure was hindering placental function. I believe he was estimated to be 20th percentile, but a week or two before that he was 40-something % so he was dropping fast.

Leap08 · November 2011

I was induced early with my first daughter because of her size (IUGR). She was born at 38 weeks and weighed 5lbs 6oz. Usually growth problems have something to do with the placenta not functioning correctly, and that was true with my daughter. I firmly believe there is nothing that you did to cause his growth problems. I have been monitored very closely with this pregnancy due to my daughter's size. I have done absolutely nothing differently, and this baby is measuring in the 50 percentile.

I am positive that your son will be fine! My daughter has always been completely healthy and normal, although she's still a little small.

Pelusa214 · November 2011

I'm sure it isn't anything you did...my sister gave birth a little over a month ago at 35 weeks and her baby was 4 1/2 pounds. Other than some feeding issues, she was perfectly healthy. Her water broke on its own & she barely made it to the hospital in time to give birth. She had just had an u/s the day before & they told her the baby was smaller than she should be & the placenta looked older than it should be.

They didn't find out until she was born that the placenta was only attached to the umbilical cord by a small membrane, so the baby wasn't getting all the nutrients she needed. Her body just knew the baby was safer out than in. I wouldn't worry, and like pp said, it's probably just something with the placenta, which you have absolutely no control over. Good luck...I'm sure your LO will be fine!

smilelari · November 2011

Just wanted to say that some babies are just small. My DS was 5lb11oz and born at 39w6d (spontaneous onset of labor). He was just small (and healthy).

NickaDee07 · November 2011

My dd was born c section at 37 weeks 1 day because she was small. She weighed 5 lbs 1.8 oz. My problem, he thinks, is my uterus being bicornuate which is causing some growth restriction. Idk though because my son is almost on Target. Usually about a week behind at most. I don't think you have anything to worry about. Baby will thrive outside of the womb

AnnaBanana0327 · November 2011

This is almost exactly what happened to me with DD! I was induced after 2 growth ultrasounds because they thought she was out of room. The ultrasounds didn't show any growth between 36 and 38 weeks. I'm 5'1". I was induced at 39 weeks. Aubrey came out 7 lbs 2 oz!! Growth ultrasounds can be way off. I wouldn't worry!! Your little guy will be great!

messfam07 · November 2011

My family babies tend to be small. At 37 weeks and 5 days with DD she was 6 lbs and 5 oz and 18 in long. my sisters DD born at 38 weeks was 5 lbs and 13 oz and 21 in long her son was born at 40 weeks and was only 6 lbs 7 oz. Plus your small also and believe me your weight gain is nothing to worry about.

mom2b_09 · November 2011

I am going through a similar situation. My baby was around the 24th percentile this week, which was a fall from the 31^st percentile 2 weeks ago. I have had the same thoughts of ?what did I do wrong?, it is so frustrating. My first was 7 lbs 2 oz and born at 40 weeks, he always measured around the 65-70^th percentile and was perfectly normal. But, he was not a ?big? baby. Of course, in my current situation, I would know none of these growth issues if it was not for the kidney issue that my little one also has. I have had an US every 4 weeks since the 20 week US. The peri has mentioned an early induction because of the low percentile, but my OB has reassured me that it is not to that point yet. My OB also knows how badly I want a VBAC and of course I cannot be induced unless it is a c-section. Thankfully, the baby is not IGR and even though the percentile is low the baby is still growing in nice intervals. I would ask your OB if your baby is still growing in intervals if you have not already. Another issue that I see with your case is your own size, as others have pointed out you probably will not have an 8 pound baby because of your genetics. I would really ask your Dr more about that fact. Me on the other hand?I am 5?9?, 180 pre-pregnancy, which is working against me and my case. I just tell myself that we know too much because of all of the US, and the US can be up to a pound off! Good luck to you!

kat_trina12 · November 2011

Thanks so much, I feel a lot better and more confident about the situation I believe everything will turn out just fine

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