Worried baby isn't growing properly

[littlefishygg]

Ladies, I'm hoping for a bit of reassurance.

All through my pregnancy I have measured my bump around my belly button (I know this isn't the most accurate way of measuring but still) and over the last 3-4 weeks my measurement hasn't changed at all after having always grown at least half an inch a week since 12 weeks. I also haven't gained any weight during this time.

I have a health condition that raises my risk of having a baby with restricted growth and I am seeing my consultant on tuesday and having a growth scan to check but I am really stressing myself out whilst waiting for it.

Have anyone else found that their bumps go through growth spurts and then doesn't grow much again for a while?
I know baby is relatively ok in there because I listen to him with my doppler and he kicks plenty so I know he is ok but I am just worried that my lack of growth means that he hasn't grown.

 

[Rhapsodi]

Maybe it's just the position baby is in that makes it not show on the outside?

Take this with a grain of salt because I know it's easier said than done but don't worry. Just wait for your appointment. Worrying isn't going to change anything and can only harm baby. So just wait. Keep busy.

Hope all is well with little one!

 

[Spiffynoodles]

My DD had IUGR, and I noticed that my bump didn't really grow between 24-28 weeks, but then by 32 weeks it had gotten much bigger, and then didn't grow too much more until she was born. But her IUGR wasn't diagnosed until after she was born. The fact that you're getting growth scans is great, because if there is a problem, they can catch it sooner rather than later.

 

[SmallBear]

There does seem to be a lot of truth in the idea that the way the baby turns can control the shape and size of your bump.

I would say be calm but cautious, and make sure they address concerns like that at your appointments.

Lots of people seem to have bumps that don't get really big, and they still have pretty big babies!

But when I noticed during my last pregnancy that my stomach seemed to be staying the same size, my doctor didn't seem concerned.

Then we had some scans that seemed a wee bit small.

Then suddenly the baby was very small, and we ended up being asked to have her early, and she weighed less than 4 pounds at almost 36 weeks.

So do pay attention to your instincts, and speak up, for sure.

It's really good, though, that they're monitoring you -- that's all they can do, and they can catch it and manage when you'll need to give birth if the baby is too small.

ETA: Obviously I'm not a doctor, but my understanding is that if you had symmetrical IUGR, which is caused by something to do with the baby, then they see growth problems much sooner. If the IUGR pops up later, then it seems to be asymmetrical, which is actually better in that it's not actually a problem in the baby, but a problem with the placenta in many cases, including mine. (Again, not a doctor -- just had this experience and did a lot of research.)

 

[Spiffynoodles]

Obviously I'm not a doctor, but my understanding is that if you had symmetrical IUGR, which is caused by something to do with the baby, then they see growth problems much sooner. If the IUGR pops up later, then it seems to be asymmetrical, which is actually better in that it's not actually a problem in the baby, but a problem with the placenta in many cases, including mine. (Again, not a doctor -- just had this experience and did a lot of research.)

Thanks for this tidbit. I've heard the terms symmetrical and asymmetrical IUGR, but wasn't sure which mine was, but since it was a problem with the placenta completely failing, I guess it would be classified as asymmetrical. Good to know.

 

[LJ Junior]

I remember with my first pregnancy being all organized and tracking my measurements every week or so, including my waist/belly size. Though my bump was noticeably growing, the numbers were pretty much staying the same! I gave up.
I had a small bump last time until about 33+ weeks and still fairly small at delivery time, but baby was born normal and healthy.
Stick with your doctor, do the growth scans, and try not to worry. Odds are you're baby is growing just fine. And even if there are issues, worrying about them being there won't change that and there's nothing you can do in the mean time before your scan to affect it. Enjoy your pregnancy and let the doctors do any worrying

 

[justplay91]

My bump doesn't seem to have grown at all either between 31 and 36 weeks! However, I have had 2 growth scans (due to gestational diabetes), one at 31+4 and one at 35+6, and baby gained over a pound from one to the next. So bump size/growth doesn't always correlate with baby size/growth.

 

[MamaLa]

I feel like someone days my bump is poked out, the next day I feel like I am just fat, and then on top of that people say "oh you're carrying well" which translates to I'm not showing at all. I haven't had a scam since 18 weeks, I'll be 26 tomorrow. But I have my GTT this week.

 

[dovkav123]

You have a huge bump! Cute one!
I lost one cm on my waist last week and this week I have gained 3cm. It depends. Maybe the amount of fluid or food you ate a day before. I am constipated for 2 days, that's why my measurents may not be accurate.

Have you measured your fundal height?
here is some info

https://www.ask.com/wiki/Fundal_height?o=2802&qsrc=999&ad=doubleDown&an=apn&ap=ask.com