Measuring Small

[Anonymous]

I am 31 weeks and went for a check up yesterday. My OB said the baby was measuring small - 29 weeks - and that I needed to go for an ultrasound. Of course, I can't get in for another week and my OB did not seem all that concerned, saying that the head could be so low that he wasn't getting an accurate reading. I am trying not to freak out but have read too much on the internet about why my baby could have suddenly stopped growing. By the way, the baby was measuring right on track until this appointment, in fact was measuring about a week ahead until about 28 weeks and the same person has been measuring each time. Anyone else going through this?

[Anonymous]

I didn't go through this exact thing, but will give you this reassurance--the measurements are NOTORIOUSLY wrong. I am sure that the Dr. just couldn't get a good reading. I had a friend whose Dr. said she would have a huge 10 pound baby and it turned out to be 7. And I have a friend who had a 5 1/2 pound baby who was perfectly healthy. I am sure it will be fine!

[Anonymous]

My baby was measuring a little behind around 32-33 weeks so I was sent for an ultrasound. Everything checked out just fine, and I really think my OB was just practicing CYA medicine. (As an aside, the ultrasound estimated that the baby weighted 6.5 pounds at the time and they were predicting an 8+ pounder by 40 weeks. I had her at 40w2d at a whopping 6 pounds, 14 ounces.) Fundal height is not precise, especially at this point in the pregnancy, and can really depend on the position of the baby. Chances are that everything is just fine. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

My OB told me I was measuring small right around the same time as you. I was sent to a specialist for an ultrasound. The specialist put me on strict bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy. They never did figure out why she measured small, but when she was born, my doctor said she had the shorted umbilical cord she had ever seen. She was 6lbs, 8 oz.

Lots of reasons baby might not be growing as rapidly as OB hopes, just be prepared for the possibility of bed rest - but I wouldn't freak out. Baby is probably just fine. PP's are right about measuring being notoriously wrong. Predictions for both of my kids were more than a few pounds off. (My second was 8 lbs, 6 oz. - with no bedrest).

Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't go through this exact thing, but will give you this reassurance--the measurements are NOTORIOUSLY wrong. I am sure that the Dr. just couldn't get a good reading. I had a friend whose Dr. said she would have a huge 10 pound baby and it turned out to be 7. And I have a friend who had a 5 1/2 pound baby who was perfectly healthy. I am sure it will be fine!

Very true! And that goes for the level of amniotic fluids too.

Don't be too alarmed - especially since the doctor isn't even that concerned.

[Anonymous]

I have two friends who measured small at around that point -- they both have beautiful, healthy, perfectly normal babies (with no bed rest, either). I had another friend whose baby was measuring small, she went on bed rest and did deliver a baby under five pounds at about 37 weeks. That baby is also completely healthy and precious and normal now, and by two months or so had pretty much caught up on growth. I am sure you're fine.

[Anonymous]

At 32 weeks, I was told my baby was measuring behind. By then, I had weekly OB appts, I could control my anxiety. Around 38 weeks, I had an u/s and after the u/s, was told that my OB would calling me while I waited in a "special" room. My babies stomach was measuring small compared to his length. I was admitted that evening at Sibley for an induction. Not only was my baby measuring small, I had little amniotic fluid, ending with a c-section around midnight. After delivery, we were told that the placenta had deteriorated. My son weighed all of 5 lbs. He was perfectly healthy but very thin.

He's now 2 and in the 75th %. He started gaining weight immediately after birth, catching up by 3 months.