HELP!!! Reduced growth and AFI 32w scan- anyone had this?

[blessedmomma]

minimin thats great news!!! it is a little daunting bringing your first little one home but in no time you will be taking care of her like you have done it forever and wondering what you ever did to stay busy before her. i can understand the not wanting to get your hopes up too, but hope is a good thing! im so glad she can possibly be at home with mom and dad soon. surrounded by love is a good place to be! did you get her formula stuff figured out or are they making you wait for her discharge papers?

 

[vickyd]

Min Im really happy to have her home but im also really scared lol! Today she started crying about 1.5 hours after her feed for two hours. I changed her, held her cleaned her nose ect ect. It only occured to me after about 50 minutes of crying that she may be hungry again! She wolfed down that bottle in minutes. I was stuck on the NICU 4 hour feeding plan!!! Anyway im hoping my instinct starts kicking in soon!

 

[blessedmomma]

Min Im really happy to have her home but im also really scared lol! Today she started crying about 1.5 hours after her feed for two hours. I changed her, held her cleaned her nose ect ect. It only occured to me after about 50 minutes of crying that she may be hungry again! She wolfed down that bottle in minutes. I was stuck on the NICU 4 hour feeding plan!!! Anyway im hoping my instinct starts kicking in soon!

sounds like your motherly instinct is already kicking in nicely hun!!! your a great momma

 

[Minimin]

VickyD! Thanks and I am glad you girls are doing well. I am sure things will kick in fast. Like BlessedMomma said- you are a good Mum!

Blessed Momma- thanks! I just feel quite detached- almost as if I dont know if I feel like a Mum as yet. I am sure that will all fall into place once she is home.
The nurse I spoke to today said she will call the doctors and get them to write the prescription for me. I will ask her tomorrow if I can find her. I should catch her tomorrow as she isn't in next week. The nurse also said she will be able to give me stuff to keep her happy if they are being arsey/or she is released on a weekend.

so on another note- someone stole my rucksack with my food in it form SCBU parents room. Seriously! How low can scums get! It had nothing of value except a food thermos to keep my lunch warm and a flask! How annoying!!

I fell asleep for three hours this afternoon and missed a pumping Breast Milk session! I feel so terrible for not being able to keep up with 8 pumps a day minimum and expressing during the night

Off to see her now- I am sure things will be better tomorrow.

Thanks ladies for listening.

BM- let us know how you are doing babe xxxxx

M

 

[vickyd]

Min dont beat yourself up about the BF...Ive also pretty much given up as no matter how many times a day i pumped i never got more than 5 ml. Im stressed enough as it is without the guilt of not trying harder to BF.

 

[blessedmomma]

min i agree with vicki you have enough to think about.

i cant believe someone stole your stuff in the hospital! wouldnt have expected that at all i would be careful what you bring up there thats for sure.

 

[daisyduck]

Hi All!

Just popping on to say - great to see all of your good news!!

All is ok with me just continuing with weekly monitoring to check growth and blood flow - so hopefully a few more weeks to go yet...

Hope your all settling into enjoying your LO's, and I look forward to seeing your next update too Blessed!

Take care everyone!

xx

 

[vickyd]

Daisy great new!

 

[Sweet_Alida]

Minum that is pretty low to steal your lunch. I'm sorry that happened. I agree with the other girls, don't stress too much about pumping, you have a lot on your plate right now. However, I read that if you eat Oatmeal, almonds and protein in general it helps boost your milk production. I tried it and to be honest can't say I noticed a huge difference, but maybe I wasn't eating enough. I would only pump what you can and not stress too much about it. She has formula which she will get "chunky" with a lot faster than BM. Good Luck I hope today goes better.

Vicki - you are a great mommy! It's not like Hero can look at you and say "I'm hungry feed me!" Her schedule will change alot! It's hard to think that might be what the problem is when your programed to feed every 4 hours! Ha ha! but during growth spurts they eat more often Good job Mommy!!!

Daisyj keep us posted!

Blessed - Only a few more days! On the count down for sure now!

 

[vickyd]

Thanks Sweet! Im trying to go with my instinct and not so much with what i learnes and saw in NICU. I have no experience with babies and beleive it or not mine is the first baby ive held in my life!!! I used to think id never want or have children cause i never felt the urge to pick up friends babies lol!!! One thing i think ill never master is how the nurses in NICU clean the baby's bottom when changing nappies. That acrobatic move under the sink is too daunting. Im sticking to baby wipes and wet cloth at the moment although hubby is determinedd to try their method this weekend!

 

[Sweet_Alida]

I only used wipes once in awhile a warm wet cloth! Never did the butt rince in the sink! Here in the US we are not that coordinated Good luck with it though I bet if you got the hang of it you could have on wipes!
That is so special that your LO was the first baby to ever hold. How special! I'm a baby/child fanatic...I love kids I knew I'd have them I just thought I'd have more than 1! I'm still trying so maybe we will!

 

[vickyd]

I honestly hope you have more babies, you seem like an awesome mom!

 

[Sweet_Alida]

Thanks Vicki! I try but there are still days that I know I could've done better! We all have our days! I hope we have 1 more, but it's truly in God's hands. However, if we don't succeed this cycle I'm helping God out by getting Clomid from my doctor! Can't hurt my chances!
I can't wait to see a pic of you little Hero!!! Stop by my journal I just posted new pics of Alida!

 

[0400772]

Im hoping someone on here can help.

I was given this link by another user but i have attached my post and hopefully someone can help

"Ill try to keep brief - i had my 6th Growth Scan and basically baby growth has completely tailed off. in the space of 4weeks she has now moved into the 5th centile. i found a website where you can put the measurements in and basically her abdomen is measuring of that as a 28week baby

The sonographer booked me in for 2 weeks time for another growth then i was sent to midwife as usual for BP and urine due to me having notching at 20 weeks so being monitored for pre-eclampsia.

In the Antenatel appointment the midwife did my blood pressure which was 120/76 which is apparently good, urine showed no abnormalities and baby is head down 4/5 palpable (sp?). also my amniotic fluid is lowering, and she was asking have i been "damp" as it seems to be slwoly leaking rather than the usual gushing description you see on movies.

Whats worrying is that she went and got a doctor who agreed that a scan in two weeks will show up any growth and they can manage from then. However he is pretty much expecting me to have a preterm baby so i was given one shot of Betamethadone steriods to boost baby lungs, and im going for second shot today. - I was reading online about the steroid and theynormally give you one dose, and then 24-48 hours before delivery they may give you a second dose. My question is what is an actual dose, as i am getting two shots? also if 4/5 palpable can baby become un-engaged?

The doctor also booked me in for a weeks time to have CTG, which i have discovered monitors the baby heartbeat and movements, contractions etc... but now im a bit worried as read that if there is any abnormalities you will be given an emergency c-section right there and then!

I know its really a case of a waiting game, until CTg, then if thats ok, its up to whatever is at scan. But i can pretty much guarantee by the way the doctor was speaking and the words he was using that if i make it to scan, its going to be a discussion afterwards about delivery. At the scan i was 34+4, what is the real delivery options? Is induction a possibilities, i know circumstances will definately sway the decision, but at present knowing what i know am i looking at c-section or induction, or is there any other method of delivery?

My other problem (which i suppose to most people is probably trivial) but i was planning a waterbirth at my local midwifery unit but now i have been told midwifery unit is out of question so im up at local hospital which is t least a 40min drive (my oh doesnt drive).

I have asked my dad that if its a booked delivery, i.e. you know date/time then he will be available to take me but if its completely natural ie waters completely break then in all honesty im kinda screwed as we have no way of getting there!

At the hospital too visitng hours are strict and its 3pm -8pm. So im going to be left alone with my first baby.(well thats if she isnt taken NICU).. At the local midwifery unit you are given your own room with baby so as long as your quiet partner can stay as long as he wants but now im going to be alone and im so scared.

If baby is in NICU i will still be placed on labour ward with all the woman and there babies and i know im not going to be able to cope being around all those babies while mine is ill

I just dont know what to do/what to think, nothing. I cant get a transfer from main hospital to local unless baby is fine and not in NICU and weighs over 5lbs.

anyone got any advice, maybe even my chances of having a baby that wont require NICU?

Lyndsay

ps i was planning on breastfeeding, will this now be affected? "

 

[vickyd]

Lyndsay your story is very familiar to me!

At my 32 week scan the doc saw that my amniotic fluid is on the lowest end of normal. Our course of action was a weekly scan to see if growth will continue and if not i would be booked for c-section (my baby was breech so natural birth was not an option). I was given the steroid shots as well, 2 in 48 hours just like you. I was told to keep an eye on the movements and to go straight in if they were reduced. The next week they were reduced and i went in where they did the NST test and a doppler. They saw that there was no growth and she was now in the 7th percentile. Basically from then on i was in every couple of days for NST and finally at 35 weeks during another routine scan i was told that we have to go for a c-section the next day. Thats usually how it goes, you are monitored until one day youre told tomorrow is the big day. I dont wanna spoil it for you but 9/10 times its a c-section, although an induction isnt out of the question. If your baby is born under 2.2 Kg then usually they take him to NICU but again this depends on the hospital protocol. Mine spent 2 weeks in NICU for poor feeding. They discharged her when her weight was up and when she was feeding on her own. Although my milk never came, the majority of mothers in NICU were expressing without any problems and when their lo started gaining weight they breastfed without any problems. Now the room is an issue, at the hospital where i gave birth they put the mothers with babies in the unit in the same room. Maybe you could ask your midwife if they can offer something similar?

Please try and stay calm, i know your entire birth plan seems to have flown out the window but the important thing is for your lo to be born saftely. I wish things had worked out differently for me too but what vcan you do?
All the best hun and chin up!

 

[blessedmomma]

hi ladies! sorry it took so long for me to update. been enjoying our family and our new addition

nathon daniel was born feb 21st at 1:44pm. weighs 6lbs 13oz.

everything went really quick and smooth. there was blood in my fluid when they broke my water and said the placenta was probably not working well and had been pulling away. thats probably why the fluid was low in the first place. they started induction at 8:30am and by noon i hadnt dilated. by 1 i was at 10 and ready to push. it was really weird how it worked. had to wait 40 minutes for my ob to get there, 2-3 pushes later he was out.

i hope everyone is doing well!

 

[vickyd]

Congratz Blessed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hes such a cutie!

 

[daisyduck]

Oh wow!! Congratulations Blessed!!

Hope that everyone else is enjoying motherhood and your new little babies!!

Only 4wks left to go for me now hopefully... Still back every thursday for scan and ctg to keep an eye on things but all on track for now so fingers crossed!!

Lyndsay, I know its hard not to let your worries kind of snowball but you really do just have to take each day as it comes - there's nothing else you can do, and stressing constantly about everything is not good for you or baby hun... I think we are at around the same stage, and like you I'm having regular growth and ctg's to keep an eye on babies well being so if you'd prefer to mail me privately i don't mind - be happy to chat!
I think we just have to appreciate that they have recognised the problems and are monitoring us ready to intervene if necessary
Unfortunately they didn't realise with my little boy, and it was very nearly too late - though luckily and thankfully after a 2wk stay on NICU we were ready to come home and he's now a happy healthly 3 yr old!!
It is unfortunate that your 'birth plan' may be ruined but i think that's often the case to be honest (i know it certainly was for me last time) and as Vicky said the most important think is yours and LO's well being so try not to dwell on it too much hun..

Anyway, you never know LO may just hang in there another few wks yet!!

xx

PS. If LO one does end up on NICU might it be a possibility to have a side room at your hospital?? Thats what was arranged for me last time when I was ready to be moved from HDU but he was still in NICU the nurses didn't think it was fair that I should be on the same ward as the mums with their new babies... May be worth asking!

 

[Minimin]

BlessedMomma! How cute is he! Great birth too.I am glad it went well and he is here safe and sound!

VickyD How are you and Hero getting on.
Serena and I are settling in nicely. I need to really stop messing about and take naps when she is down. Other than that she is the cutest and gorgeous baby!
Hope you are ok Lyndsay!

Minimin

 

[mummylove]

He is beautiful congrats