Low fetal weight

melszum · June 2014

I had an u/s today at 24 weeks to follow up my anatomy scan because they could not get all the measurements. Today they said everything is perfect except baby is measuring small in the 16th percentile. 10th percentile would be cause for concern but I am getting another u/s next month. Anyone have any thoughts/ experience with this?

Justabean3 · June 2014

Did they give you a weight? I'm just curious. My 3rd percentile son was born at 7 pounds 2 oz

lrobi13 · June 2014

I have no insight but I hope that lo hits a good growth spurt before the next u/s!

jcsumm0 · June 2014

I would not be concerned at the 16th percentile. There is a range of normal, it's not like a grade. 16th percentile is statistically the same as the 84th. Try not to worry!

vrj0522 · June 2014

I don't know anything about it either but I hope his growth speeds up before your next u/s. While it does sound like he is close to the line, at least he's still in the safe zone. Congrats on seeing baby today!

melszum · June 2014

They told me baby weighed 1 pound.

Jansheski · June 2014

A friend I work with just went through something very similar. She had to go back every 4 weeks for an ultrasound because her baby was measuring so small. Then she hit 32 weeks and baby had a growth spurt! She was 7lb 6oz born last week perfectly healthy.

MorganWP · June 2014

I don't personally have experience with this, both my DD and now DS measured above average. However, my auntie (who is like a sister) had small measuring babies until later, around 30 to 34 weeks and then they had big growth spurts. You can even see it in her bump photos. Really small bump and then a sudden pop out at the end.

Lindzoid · June 2014

I was told my entire pregnancy with my oldest that he was going to be very small and low weight. He came out 6lbs 9oz!
I wouldn't stress over it.

melszum · June 2014

My son was 8 lbs 3 oz. advice I got from another u/s tech who is a friend said that one measurement can be inaccurate so I shouldn't stress. I will know more after next months measurement

TheFutureMrs.O · June 2014

Baby girl keeps measuring small. They are not concerned and are chalking it up to genetics. Not sure if your small as well but I am 5' and just a bit over 100pds pre-pregnancy so they just feel she'll have my genetics. Makes complete sense if you ask me. I'm not worried that she's going to be small.

Taramocd · June 2014

I had an US done today. I am 23 weeks and baby is 1lb 4oz. They said he's right on track.

MuffinMom14 · June 2014

PurpleHippo19 said:

melszum said:

They told me baby weighed 1 pound.

I'm pretty sure that's average right now!

I don't have any advice or experience with this, but it sounds to me like you don't have anything to worry about. Hope everything looks good at your next u/s!

Not that these things are really medically sound, but the email I got this week for 23 weeks said my baby should weigh a pound now.

Emerald27 · June 2014

My son was diagnosed IUGR in utero at just 7th percentile. He was born at 37 weeks weighing 5lbs 1oz and perfectly healthy.

After 20 weeks, weight and growth predictions via u/s become more difficult, because babies will have growth spurts at various times, so you could go Monday and be told you have a small baby or Friday and be told he's huge. Also, they base fetal weight off averages in measurements, so some babies that are long and lean measure much bigger because of limb length than a baby with short limbs of a similar weight.

In 16th percentile I wouldn't worry at all. FX for a great next scan!

jcsumm0 · June 2014

I didn't have time to leave a long response yesterday, but my daughter also had IUGR. At my anatomy scan, she measured 10th percentile. My dr was not concerned, thought she was probably just small, but we had a repeat u/s at 28 weeks. Same thing, 10th percentile, no other cause for concern. Then I developed GD (well, borderline, it was very well controlled) and she decided to send me to the MFM for my next ultrasound at 32 weeks. At that appt, my fluid was low and they started to see problems with cord flow. I had ultrasounds every other week and was put on bedrest. DD continued at 10th percentile, but my fluid stayed low and the cord flow continued to be suspect, so I was induced at 37 weeks. She weighed 5lbs 5oz. Her size was never an issue, other than causing a bit of a bumpy start with nursing.

She ended up in the the NICU, but that was due to a completely unrelated issue that no one suspected since there is no prenatal testing for it.

IUGR does not get diagnosed until your baby is at 10th percentile and below, and there is almost always some other factor that indicates a problem like low fluid or the head measuring much smaller than the abdomen, etc.

Like Emerald said as well, measurements are fairly inaccurate at this stage too. I hope you have a great ultrasound next time

Roseypants · June 2014

I just had an US at 22 weeks and baby was measuring 1lb. You aren't too far off if that gives you a little perspective. I'm sure everything is just fine!

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