Not keen on growth scan - need articles to take to OB

[Rommy'sMummy]

Hi All,

Background; Well DS suffered from Inter-uterine Growth Retardation (IUGR) and was born at 36 weeks and only 1.6kg (3lb 10oz)! We had growth scans from 28 weeks each fortnight to track his progress. He was born via emergency c-section due to fetal distress - without labor.

So this time I took Asprin to assist in the blood flow through the placenta to support this baby's growth. Seems to have worked (very) well. Baby is measuring on the 65th%. I am 6ft tall and of good weight. My family generally has bigger babies, my sisters biggest of her four was 5.5kg (12lb 8oz)!

My issue is I want a healthy baby and a VBAC delivery. My OB is concerned that this bub might get too big to try for a VBAC and so wants me to have another growth scan at 34 weeks.

Question; I think there would be good arguments against this ie estimates can be off etc. What I am looking for is any articles that show the discrepancies between growth estimates through scans and actual birth size. I want to show an informed argument that the scan is not accurate enough to make a birthing decision on. I have searched the main BB site and cant find anything.

Help???

Thanks,

Rachel

[misty]

Sorry I cann't point you in the right direction, just wanted to say good luck, I hope you get your VBAC.

[Arimeh]

I can't point you in any particular direction either, but I know from experience that they are often wrong.

DD was estimated to be 10 pounds, 4 oz by a scan the day before my c-section - she was 8 pound 11.5 oz.

Trouble is, they measure the femur length to estimate size, and if you are on the tall side (which you are) then bubs will most likely have long legs, therefore giving an inaccurate reading of size.

My DH is 6 foot 7, so my kids are measured as big babies, but they just come out long and skinny (and not overly huge, DS was only 8 pound 2.5 oz) with loooong legs. We've even been told that this one in my belly has long legs, so I'm sure I'll get told its too big for me to attempt a VBA2C.

Good luck on your hunt for the articles - and all the best for your VBAC.

[Trillian]

In my experience, and from what I have casually noticed on here over the years, if you go in waving about fistfuls of printed articles, you are going to look like someone who has spent half the night googling and more than likely you will be dismissed and treated like a moron (judging by the disdainful remarks some women get when they try to challenge their Ob's on a particular theory)

Definitely research on this and the chances of a sucessful VBAC even with a large baby etc and just go in there with the confidence to say, 'thanks, I will have the scan but at this early stage I would like to just see how things go as I am fully committed to a VBAC and I want every chance of getting that. If there is a medical reason why my baby needs to be born via c/s, we will discuss it if and when that moment arrives." You need the strength of your convictions to give you that confidence, so researching it is really helpful in that respect but they do seem to respect confidence to accept what they are saying but at the same time still having your choices for birth respected if you do it that way as opposed to presenting them with articles off the net. And FWIW, growth scans are scary things, and mostly used to put the fear of god into you from either a baby too big to birth or a baby too small too birth that needs to come out via c/s or early induction, much the same as what they usually want to do with large baby either way it's a game you rarely win without putting up a good fight kwim? I shudder at the thought of how big they would have estimated my last baby, who was over 10lb and 59cm lng ROFL.

[Lulu]

Maybe you can ask your Ob what his idea of a 'big' baby is. That could be a starting point, I'm very interested to hear what size would be 'too big' for a woman that is 6ft tall.

[Rommy'sMummy]

thanks ladies,

I will ask my OB what she thinks constitutes "too big" for me. I will come back in and let you know - BTW I have great "child bearing hips" that are already separating in readiness for birth and am having to wear a brace to hold them together .

I think what I actually need to do is to present as calm and confidant that I can birth this baby that my body made and that if that is proved wrong during labor then we can do a section at that point.

I really want to experience at least labor if not delivery! This will be my last baby (whaa) and therefore my last chance to experience this amazing thing called birth.

Trillian; ROFL! yes I would run the risk of looking a bit nutty wouldn't I? I think you are right with just presenting with a sense of conviction.

thanks,

Rachel

[Midwife Melissa]

Research or no research, it's up to you whether you have this scan or not. You don't have to give a reason or enter into a discussion: you can just say no.

[Tobily]

In my experience, and from what I have casually noticed on here over the years, if you go in waving about fistfuls of printed articles, you are going to look like someone who has spent half the night googling and more than likely you will be dismissed and treated like a moron (judging by the disdainful remarks some women get when they try to challenge their Ob's on a particular theory)

Definitely research on this and the chances of a sucessful VBAC even with a large baby etc and just go in there with the confidence to say, 'thanks, I will have the scan but at this early stage I would like to just see how things go as I am fully committed to a VBAC and I want every chance of getting that. If there is a medical reason why my baby needs to be born via c/s, we will discuss it if and when that moment arrives." You need the strength of your convictions to give you that confidence, so researching it is really helpful in that respect but they do seem to respect confidence to accept what they are saying but at the same time still having your choices for birth respected if you do it that way as opposed to presenting them with articles off the net. And FWIW, growth scans are scary things, and mostly used to put the fear of god into you from either a baby too big to birth or a baby too small too birth that needs to come out via c/s or early induction, much the same as what they usually want to do with large baby either way it's a game you rarely win without putting up a good fight kwim? I shudder at the thought of how big they would have estimated my last baby, who was over 10lb and 59cm lng ROFL.

I agree.

You don't need to convince him/her of anything. You only need to feel confident and comfortable within yourself. And when you do, you can yes or no to this scan and that is the end of it.

[Rommy'sMummy]

You know what? I feel like a bit of a twit-head so I thought I would let you know the update on my worry of having a growth scan...

Went to my OB today as I have been a bit concerned about *aherm* (clears throat in embarrassment ) damp knickers . So had an emerg appointment with OB to check for hind waters leaks as DS had a loss of liquor in his pg.

ANYWAY - thats all ok...(bloody 39 year old pelvic floor...)

SO I asked her about the growth scan and said that I wasnt keen to make any decisions about birthing based on a scan. She agreed and said that she wanted me to have the scan as she was concerned that the IUGR that my DS had (he was 1.6kg at 36wks) could happen to this one still and that it was important to check that bubs was still growing and ditto with the placenta.

WHEW. So I had just misinterpreted her concern about size of bub. And she didnt make it clear about her concerns. SO I will have the scan to make sure placenta and baby are still growing and OB and I have reaffirmed that a VBAC is the goal.

YAY.

Rachel

[GoingtobebiginAsia]

That's great news Rachel. Here's hoping everything goes well from here on in.