Anyone having regular growth scans due to risk of IUGR?

[Marie131]

Oh Vixxen, I hope baby can hold on in there a little longer

SS, that is great news!

 

[BleedingBlack]

I had two IUGR babies and I'm at a really high risk again. I'll be getting scans at every appointment.

 

[kelly6407]

Hi bleedingblack welcome!



So I had my growth scan yesterday and baby is on track and growing fine, the cord flow is working perfect too.

Only now pre eclampsia seem to be showing its face again, my bp is slightly high and I have protein in my urine so they have started my on a daily dose of aspirin.
They also want me checked over every 2 weeks from now on.

They also gave me the bad news I will need to have a section really hate section and was hoping to go into labour. My last baby was an emergency section at 28weeks and the way they did it means I need a section this time.

 

[Marie131]

Any updates, vixxen?

bleedingback, welcome! Hopefully everything goes fine for you w/ this pregnancy.

Kelly, sorry to hear about the repeat section and the risk of pre-e. Great news about baby's size though!

I saw my m/w yesterday, not much to report but at this point everything seems stable. My fundal height hasn't changed much in 2 weeks, but I guess that isn't to be unexpected w/ IUGR. My next MFM and growth/doppler scan is in 5 days. Hoping baby is still growing!!

 

[Hellylou]

Had my growth scan today - baby measuring great, which is fab, but my protein leak has increased to 3.3g in 24 hours (kidney condition) - this was taken 2 weeks ago. So far bp is good, no swelling or other symptoms but I'm a bit dejected today. I still have 8 weeks to go so hoping things stabilise. Doing another 24 hour collection today and will see results next week. Hopefully it was just a bad day...

 

[Crayz]

Hi everyone!

Jox-Congrats on the birth of your healthy baby boy! I'm so happy that he was a really good size!

Vixxen-I hope you hang in there as long as you can!

Marie-It sounds like you finally got some good news. I know what you're going through. It's nerve wracking because you won't know until your LO is born if there even IS an issue. In the meantime you go over every possible scenario in your head, which just causes constant anxiety.

Everything looked great for my daughter besides the IUGR. Her NSTs were always stellar, the dopplers were always perfect, her heart looked and sounded amazing. We did all the tests and everything came back fine.

It turns out that our daughter has a congenital heart defect known as VSD (a hole in the heart). One of the symptoms is difficulty gaining weight and just difficulty growing in general. I really believe that was the reason for her IUGR. They weren't able to detect it before she was born. They explained the reason to me, and it makes perfect sense, but I wouldn't be able to explain it properly.
I had TONS of monitoring during pregnancy, but I never had an echocardiogram. I'm glad you had that, so at least you can rule out any heart defects.

The good news for us is that her hole will either close on it's own, or she will need to have surgery. The surgery is non-invasive. It's done with a catheter in her leg, they patch the hole with mesh, and her heart muscles grow over it and it will be like it was never there. She will live a normal healthy life like any other person. The surgery has a 99% success rate.

Other than that, she is officially "term" today (37 weeks). Since birth she has gained a pound, so she is 4 lbs. now. She is regulating her own body temp so she is no longer in an incubator, she no longer needs the bili lights, and she is FINALLY starting to take whole bottles, so she shouldn't need the NG tube for much longer.

These babies may be tiny, but they are FIGHTERS. My daughter is very strong, and she just amazes me so much. She has accomplished so many milestones since she was born 3 weeks ago. So please don't worry ladies who have never experienced this before. I know that's easier said than done, but you'll be so surprised at how well your babies thrive once they are out of the womb, which for IUGR babies is in most cases, a better place for them to be.

Good luck everyone. I pray that even if your babies are small, that they will THRIVE once they make their debut into this world, whenever that may be.

 

[Jox]

amazing news Crayz does your little lady have a name? so pleased she is doing so well x

 

[Marie131]

Thanks for the encouragement, Crayz. It can be hard keeping that chin up amongst all the uncertainty (as I'm sure you know!). My next growth scan and MFM is tomorrow. I'll keep you posted.

 

[AmesLouise]

Hi Ladies,
I'm confused. I went to the doc (high risk specialist) for my in depth scan at 19 weeks and he told me that my baby's umbilical cord is attached in a not so favorable location (top of the placenta). He said he was concerned b/c these babies usually have a growth restriction as the pregnancy progresses. After everything I read, people have multiple scans throughout their pregnancy to check this, but my doc wants to see me back at 32 weeks! That's 12 weeks later! Have any of you experienced this?

 

[Hellylou]

Hi Ladies,
I'm confused. I went to the doc (high risk specialist) for my in depth scan at 19 weeks and he told me that my baby's umbilical cord is attached in a not so favorable location (top of the placenta). He said he was concerned b/c these babies usually have a growth restriction as the pregnancy progresses. After everything I read, people have multiple scans throughout their pregnancy to check this, but my doc wants to see me back at 32 weeks! That's 12 weeks later! Have any of you experienced this?

That is bizarre. I haven't heard of that particular complication, though. I would go back to the doc to ask exactly why there is no need to see you again beforehand. I've had growth scans every 4 weeks from 20 weeks onwards, but I have a different condition. It might be something that doesn't usually have an effect til later?

 

[AmesLouise]

Yes, the doc mentioned that it doesn't become a problem until 32 weeks, when the baby is larger.

 

[nchris]

Hi ladies. My name is Nicola. I just joined this site as have been browsing the web (really bad idea) and would really like to chat to women in the same situation as me. I was going to start a new thread but this thread title is the exact situation I'm in.

First off, congrats to the lady who started the thread and anybody else who has had their babies since the thread started . I haven't read the entire thread but I hope that none of you have had heartache with your babies.

Okay, well this is my third pregnancy. My first baby 11 years ago was born weighing 5lbs at 36+weeks. The were monitering her for being small anyway but I then developed pre-e so they took her out via c-sedction. My second child born almost 6 years ago was again monitered for being small and was born weighing 6 lbs at 39 weeks so also very small but other than their small sizes, both my babies were completely healthy.

So now I'm having my third child, new partner and I've been having growth scans since 29 weeks. Again, they are saying he's small. I think he's currently on the 10th percentil, maybe a bit below. I'm 33 weeks at the moment and according to my scan yesterday he weighs roughly 3 lbs 10. I'm really hoping I make it to my due date and that my little one weighs more than my last one. My growth scan at 31 weeks had him weighing 2 lbs 13 so he has gained a fair bit in 2 weeks. I'm going to see my constultant today to find out what he thinks but after my last scan they gave me steroid injections 'just in case'. He hasn't mentioned IUGR but it does say SGA on my notes. I think IUGR was only mentioned with my first child so not sure if that is the case or just small babies.

I really should feel reassured by the fact that my two previouis babies were both small but very healthy and still are to this day at 11 and 5, but I just can't help but worry. I was really hoping for a stress free pregnancy this time. I've gained the right amount of weight and have had a very healthy, balanced diet since I took the test at 5 weeks. This baby really does feel bigger and I would have thought that his weight of 3 lbs 10 with 7 weeks left to go is an okay weight? I'm wondering whether doctors are just being overly precautious because of my previous babies but isn't 6+ lbs okay for a birth weight? I really think I just have genetically small babies.

Sorry for the long post. I'm just really worried and googling everything like an idiot

I'd love to stay involved in this thread and I wish all of you who are going through a similar situation the best of luck with the remainder of your pregnancies xxx

 

[Marie131]

Welcome, nchris. Sorry you are having to go through this, IUGR is very scary. I can't really offer too much advice since I'm a lot earlier on than you. My baby is measuring in the 1st percentile and I usually have 9lbs-ers so our doctors are concerned. It sounds like your doctors are keeping a close eye on you, which is reassuring that they will spot anything really troublesome before it becomes an issue. I agree with you that 6lbs is a perfectly appropriate size for a full term baby. IUGR is usually classified at below 5lbs 8oz at full term. Sounds like you typically have small babies, hopefully that is just the case this time Good luck at your appointment today, let us know how it goes!

 

[Marie131]

Had my growth/doppler scan yesterday and baby had 2 weeks of growth in 2 weeks Everything else looks good and stable right now. Baby is measuring 3 weeks behind and she is too small for an estimated weight. the doctor said if she is born right now they couldn't do anything for her until she is the size of a 24 weeker which she hopes will be at my next appointment in 2 weeks. Keep up the growing, baby girl!!

 

[tishtosh]

Yay Marie that's good news!

I had my me app on Mon and everything looked on track with nice strong heartbeat. I've got my next app at 26 weeks. Having more regular me apps this time too which is nice. She said that it's reassuring my 20 week scan didn't show any problems and having low Papp A rarely causes major problems.

Have my next scan in just under 4 weeks. Can't wait to see my baby girl again.

 

[tishtosh]

Sorry that should read mw app not me!

 

[vixxen]

Hi all been of the internet for a while but thought i should update you all on my situation.
Ok after being kept in hospital from last week i in fact signed myself out of hospital after some flow returning to on the friday since then my scan monday showed same and yesterday showed babies growth as being 4lb 5 which is on the 10th percentile for her.
Unfortunately flow in brain is increasing which could indicate a problem such as aneamia or worse wont know till she's born.
Will see how my scan goes tomorrow so fed up now!its even worse now with the kids not being at school!

 

[Marie131]

That is great news, TishTosh!

Vixxen, glad to hear you are home from the hospital. I hope everything is ok! How did your last scan go?

 

[vixxen]

I'ts ok at moment, was a nightmare taking them friday (3 kids).
Babysitter arranged for mondays scan can't be taking them all there again.
How's everyone else doing?

 

[nchris]

Hi Marie131. Thanks for replying! Sorry, been off the internet since my last post. How far along are you? Do you know what your baby is weighing at the moment?

So I saw the consultant last week and he was happy with the baby's progress. He gained nearly a pound in two weeks so I have been left alone for the moment and my next scan is in 2 weeks (3 weeks since last appointment). I don't think my hospital deals with percentiles. The doctor said they are not concerned about the actual weight as long as he's growing, which he is. Still it worries me that vixxen's baby is on the 10th percentile and over 4lbs and my baby weighed less than that at 33 weeks. How far are you vixxen? Hope everything was okay with your scan yesterday?

I'm not sure about IUGR and birth weight. I just know that the doctors made a big deal about my son being born full term weighing only 6lbs. I had growth scans booked for this pregnancy even before I started measuring small, just because of my last child's birth weight. I'm really hoping for bigger this time! xxx