Anyone having regular growth scans due to risk of IUGR?

[vixxen]

Oh am also trying to remain positive!

 

[Crayz]

Jox-I'm so sorry to hear about your ordeal. Over 5 lbs. is a great size so far! A tiny slow down in growth is a cause for panic for us, but two scans in a row you had a major growth spurt of over a pound! I mean that is just amazing! I know you're nervous, but you're in the best place for your LO right now where they can constantly monitor baby if anything should go wrong (which I will be praying for you that baby stays healthy). So take a deep breath, and keep reminding yourself that LO is okay for now, and that you are surrounded by professionals 24 hours a day if anything changes. It takes them 30 seconds to get him out!

Vixxen-I'm also sorry to hear your scan didn't go great and that the flow is compromised still. I guess they weren't terribly concerned as you are at home, so I guess that's good news, right? Did baby grow at all, or was it just a Doppler?

Hellylou-I'm sorry I Didn't get a chance to say that I'm happy that your LO is growing nicely! What great news, you must be so relieved!!

Welcome Marie. I'm Glad you are here, but not under such crummy circumstances. Try not to worry just yet (easier said than done). 2 weeks behind is scary to hear, but your baby still has plenty of time to catch up. You haven't gotten an official diagnosis yet, so there is still time. Do some research on the March of Dimes website (always research on .org or .gov, never on a .com because it will only scare you more). Just be educated in case you get that diagnosis you know what you're dealing with ahead of time and you'll know what questions to ask. Trust your doctors as they know what's best for your LO. And please, keep us updated on your progress! Good luck honey!

Now. My scan? Hmm. I have mixed emotions about it. Everything looked great. The flow to heart and brain, perfect. The heart rate, perfect, the fluid, also perfect.

She only grew .25 oz. in two weeks. Not desired, that's for sure. So she's now at 2.12 at 33 weeks. So now she is measuring at 4 WEEKS BEHIND. That is very, very scary. But the doctor seems very optimistic because of all of the other tests, so she's going to allow me to stay pregnant for awhile longer, but at this point I'm wondering if it's worth it as she's really taking her sweet ass time getting bigger in there. So because it's hard for me to get a straight answer from my doctor (who I totally adore and trust, BTW) I have no idea what's going on. She said once I hit 34 weeks her chances are as good as a full term baby. That was her answer to my question of whether or not she was going to have to be born early.

My doctor has this way of never really answering your questions because she doesn't know the answer, and she doesn't want to give false hope or cause concern when it is unnessecary. I think at this point her attitude is "Let's just wait and see."

SO, I will continue with 3 NST's a week, and 2 Dopplers a week, and a growth scan every two weeks. So for now, I guess I'll be pregnant at least until 35 weeks. So yay!

So sorry for the long post!! I just know you ladies understand!

 

[Crayz]

Oh and Vixxen

Here's to staying positive!

 

[vixxen]

Yep it was just the doppler and ctg,won't be getting next growth scan till nxt week. The flow is not completely absent (or reversing) so ok by me!
It does sound like it won't be long for you now Crayz if not much growth as she would grow faster outer of you than in , i think the docs want to keep her in longer to help mature your los lungs.
My consultants the same with the answers though she did say that if i make it to 37 weeks she will induce me but is really surprised i've got this far oh well i guess its scan to scan and nst test to test for all of us at the moment

 

[vixxen]

ahhh i needed that virtual drink cheers!

 

[Marie131]

Thanks for the warm welcome. I need to step away from google and try and stay positive. I am glad to have found this forum and will definitely update once I find out what is going on. Is there anything I can do in the mean time to help this LO grow??

 

[vixxen]

The usual i think apply here, definiatly no smoking as it may constrict blood flow even more, try and stay away from smokey areas no alcohol at all.
Other than that i've not been given other advice from doctor( i don't drink or smoke) not sure if you can do anything to help my consultants don't even suggest asprin to me or blood thinners,others do, so it will be up to your personal team looking after you.

 

[Jox]

Girls I really need ur advice and experience. When I've asked about the Doppler flow scans and the blood flow I've always just been told it's either present or it's not but surely that's not right? They put on my scans edf present but is there a measurement they take? How does it work for urs? I've had a Doppler scan this morning and she said blood flow looks ok. Is that ok but was good on thurs? I've been googling and can't seem to find anything. So basically what I'm asking is does it decrease b4 it stops and r sonographers actually looking at the quality of flow rather than just 'yes it's there'? Any advice is much appreciated x

Hope ur all ok x

 

[Crayz]

Jox, I'm not really sure what you're asking, but I'll explain what my doctor explained to me.

I do think that Vixxen may be able to answer this better though, as she has more experience with flow issues.

They measure the peaks and valleys of the actual flow on the monitor (i'm sure you've seen this on thenscreen during the doppler). The peaks need to be within a certain height, so they measure for that. The valleys also need to be present. My doctor told me once the valleys are no longer visible, there is a problem. I guess that is the dumbed down version, but that's what i was told.

Is everything okay?!

 

[vixxen]

I'm not sure if it decreases or rises(i think it rises) as they are always telling me even though theres flow its raised
my measurements today was not great but ok enough to be at home.
The end diagnostic flow is either absent,intermittently absent or reversed, or just present for those with normal flow.If its reversed they will want baby out as soon as!
They take measurements from cord in normally 3 places.
mine today was RI 0.56 which was the only measurement she could get as she was unable to get measurements else where, though to be honest not sure what it means.

 

[vixxen]

Oh and i think the bigger the gap between the rise and fall the worse the problem. Mine had really big gaps again . Oh well bring on next scan wed

 

[Marie131]

Vixxen, good luck at your scan Wed. Hoping for good news for you.

I just heard from my m/w and my appointment w/ the specialists is tomorrow!!!! I am so not prepared for that, I was expecting to wait at least another week but am glad we don't have to wait long for answers. She told me that I have a full day of appointments booked at our Women's Hospital (Vancouver), I'll be seeing a Geneticist (x2), having an u/s and seeing a Perinatologist. Wow. This is scary. What will happen at this appointment? I had no idea we would be seeing a geneticist as they were suspecting placenta issue. Perhaps it's my age??? I'm 35

 

[vixxen]

Good luck Marie!
I'm not sure about the geneticist as i've never seen one, maybe age is a factor and there are a few other things that they might need to rule out first.
When i had the diagnosing scan it was with a Fetal Medicine Team with all the specialists so there may even have been a geneticist there just didnt realise
I also think our specialist teams are a little different and work differently too.
Your scan will probably be a more intense one where every body part is measured plus the flow to baby coming through the cord.
My little un is going to be a shorty as arms and legs are only on the 5th percentile but this is probably because of the flow issues other parts of her are more average sizes so hopefully she wont be as short as predicted.
Hopefully tomorrow you will have some answers and will know more how they are going to handle your care

 

[Marie131]

update on me: Turns out the IUGR is symmetrical and severe (less then 1%tile). There were some markers on the u/s as well. A spot on the heart (which they said is demonstrated in both normal fetuses and fetuses w/ abnoralities so it could be something or nothing) and an echogenic bowel. Putting everything together is leading them to think it could possibly be cystic fibrosis, but they are more leaning towards something chromosomal.

I am terrified. I am hoping it is not a fatal chromosomal abnormality. T21 I can live with, cystic fibrosis I can live with. T13 or T18 would devestate me.

We also found out that we are having a girl. We have 3 boys already so I have the daughter I've always hoped for but we may very well lose her. I am a mess.

They ran a bunch of blood and we are considering amnio. They did the TORCH screen and told us it may also be placenta related but that is lower down on their list of possibilities. baby could also just be constitutionally small, but considering my last 3 babies were all big (2 were macrosomia) it is unlikely.

I am a mess. Still lots of unanswered questions and very little hope.

 

[peagarden]

Oh Marie, thats so crappy. We went through something very similar and the tests do tend to come back quite quickly if thats any consolation. We had an amnio as they didn't give us much hope at all and we wanted answers. We knew it came with a risk of miscarriage but I had heard it depends on the competency of the person doing it and my consultant is amazing. It didn't cause a miscarriage but of course that is only somethign u can decide. R they scanning u again soon? Out of interest, what is the TORCH screening?
Be kind to yourself and take it easy, big hugs

 

[vixxen]

There's always hope Marie,my thoughts are with you hun have they offered you an amnio?

I thought the same i could live with CF and downs as long as my baby is alive!

I'm here any time you need to talk!

 

[Marie131]

Thanks ladies, it's really hard to keep my chin up today when everything seems to be so negative. My kids are all acting wild today so that isn't helping things

Vixxen, amnio was offered and we are considering it. I did the blood screening test (sorry i forget what it's called) so we are waiting for those results before deciding whether or not to pursue amnio.

Peagarden, the TORCH is the screening for infections like toxoplasmosis, CMV and others. If I may ask, what was the outcome of your situation?

Thanks for the support, this is really hard and something I never thought I would face. But I guess no one ever does expect such things to happen to them.

 

[Crayz]

Marie-I'm so sorry to hear about your news. I will say a prayer for your LO and your family.

The doctors always tell you worst case scenario, and it's always very scary. Unfortunately it is their job.

I've been told LO could have a chromosomal abnormality as well, but I wasn't offered an amino. I wish I was, but maybe it's better I don't know. I've worried enough this whole pregnancy. I wouldn't be able to do much with the answers anyways. I guess we'll just cross that bridge when we come to it. I'll love her just the same.

Just know that you always have support here.

 

[Crayz]

So.....

I just had a baby like 3.5 hours ago.

What plans does everyone else have for the weekend?

I'll write more later. But she was 3 lbs. 1 oz. and she came out crying and breathing on her own. She is the spitting image of my husband, and just perfect. I've only seen her for about 5 seconds as I'm recovering from a c-section. She's in the NICU but she's doing great so far!

 

[Hellylou]

Oh wow Crayz - congratulations! I hope you're ok, and that your lovely girl grows well in NICU. Big hugs!!