How small is too small for a full-term baby?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IUGR = intrauterine growth restriction

not PP, but a baby can be IUGR even if it's born to large parents. If the flow of nutrients from the mother to the baby was restricted, then the baby would be born small. this does not necessarily mean there is anything wrong with the baby, it could be that the placenta wasn't doing its job.

That actually happened to me, a calcified placenta, and my DC was 5 lbs. 2 oz. He was caught up by 3 months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IUGR = intrauterine growth restriction

not PP, but a baby can be IUGR even if it's born to large parents. If the flow of nutrients from the mother to the baby was restricted, then the baby would be born small. this does not necessarily mean there is anything wrong with the baby, it could be that the placenta wasn't doing its job.

Actually---it is most common in obese mothers.

[Anonymous]

Hi,I gave birth to a baby girl 2 months ago. She was 4 lbs 13 oz at birth. She is now 9 lbs 3 oz, so has caught up well and is healthy and so far hitting all of her milestones. There was no NICU or anything like that, though we did do a 'car seat' challenge. I admit it was a bit freaky at first--she was SO tiny, but everything was fine. In fact, she's kicking her legs and laughing as we speak.

We do not know why she was so small. I am somewhat petite and was not even on the growth charts my first year (but born over 6 lbs and our other child is around 90th percentile). We knew in the 3rd trimester that she would be small but estimated to be larger. I had no health problems during pregnancy except that I had a really bad couple of weeks with stomach flu/bronchitis and did not gain much weight but that is probably not the cause. The placenta looked normal and I didn't have any other medical conditions and was not obese. She might just be constitutionally small.

some preemie clothes and diapers were helpful for the first 2 weeks. THen she was in NB and now is starting to fit some of her 0-3 month clothes.

[Anonymous]

My daughter was full term and was 4 pounds, 6 ounces at birth. She's adopted, but her birthmom was not obese. She was 22 years old, maybe 5'1'' or 5'2'' and petite but "hearty."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IUGR = intrauterine growth restriction

not PP, but a baby can be IUGR even if it's born to large parents. If the flow of nutrients from the mother to the baby was restricted, then the baby would be born small. this does not necessarily mean there is anything wrong with the baby, it could be that the placenta wasn't doing its job.

Actually---it is most common in obese mothers.

Cite? I was obese for my first pregnancy and told that the biggest problem is high birth weight babies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IUGR = intrauterine growth restriction

not PP, but a baby can be IUGR even if it's born to large parents. If the flow of nutrients from the mother to the baby was restricted, then the baby would be born small. this does not necessarily mean there is anything wrong with the baby, it could be that the placenta wasn't doing its job.

Actually---it is most common in obese mothers.

I was 112 lbs. When I became pregnant and had a 5 lb.baby.

[Anonymous]

If you've had a small full-term baby, PLEASE make sure to have annual physicals and get your heart checked out (chest x-ray and EKG). Moms with full-term low birth weight babies are at double the risk for heart disease.
[url]
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/20/health/research/having-small-baby-may-raise-mothers-heart-risks.html?_r=1&ref=health[/url]

[Anonymous]

I had a calcified placenta and didn't know until DD was born and it came out looking awful. Baby was just under 5 lbs. My measurements hadn't been that off so it was a surprise she was that small. It breaks my heart knowing that she was in there not getting everything she should have been.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IUGR = intrauterine growth restriction

not PP, but a baby can be IUGR even if it's born to large parents. If the flow of nutrients from the mother to the baby was restricted, then the baby would be born small. this does not necessarily mean there is anything wrong with the baby, it could be that the placenta wasn't doing its job.

Actually---it is most common in obese mothers.

Cite? I was obese for my first pregnancy and told that the biggest problem is high birth weight babies.

google it. it is well-known. here is an excerpt:
Overnutrition and IUGR. Significant health problems for animals (particularly companion animals) and women of reproductive age also result from being overweight or obese due to overeating. Overnutrition can result from increased intake of energy and/or protein. Extensive studies have shown that maternal overnutrition retards placental and fetal growth, and increases fetal and neonatal mortality in rats, pigs, and sheep (14). Results of recent epidemiological studies indicate that almost 65% of the adult population in the U.S. is overweight [defined as a body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m2], while 31% of the adult population is obese (defined as BMI > 30 kg/m2) (15). Many overweight and obese women unknowingly enter pregnancy and continue overeating during gestation (16). These women usually gain more weight during the first pregnancy and accumulate more fat during subsequent pregnancies. Maternal obesity or overnutrition before or during pregnancy may result in fetal growth restriction and increased risk of neonatal mortality and morbidity in humans (16).

[Anonymous]

I was 4 lbs, 13 oz - full term and healthy. As it turned out, my mom had heart disease.

[Anonymous]

By today's standards I would have been classified as having IUGR when I was born at just under 4 pounds at 42 weeks. All of my siblings were small too.

My mom had a blood clotting disorder she didn't know about. I'm on lovenox for this pregnancy because I have the same blood clotting disorder. I'm being monitored closely for growth and IUGR.

This might be something her doctor will consider down the road if she is interested in testing, but I'm not sure all doctors will think it's an issue. Other things like APS can also contribute to grown restriction through constriction of blood supply in the placenta. It would not hurt for her to get a consult before her next pregnancy, if she is planning on having more children.

[Anonymous]

I was 4 lbs, 13 oz - full term and healthy. As it turned out, my mom had heart disease.

]

I am a PP who had a tiny baby (not obese-117# at conception). but this scares me because of a strong family history of early death (like 40s) due to heart disease. How did she find out?

[Anonymous]

I delivered twins at what is considered full term for twins (37 weeks) and one was 4.5 lbs. It was scary that he was so small - but flash forward to age 3.5 and he is a stromng healthy boy! He did had reflux but so did his twin and my older son.

[Anonymous]

My first was small from pre-e but after a baby that size they would have tested her for it even if they hadn't thought she had it before. If it is pre-e, the baby will likely have no long term consequences given how late the problem developed.

Very nice that you sent some smaller clothes.