Small for Dates, HELP PLEASE !!!!

I'm hoping someone will be able to reassure me, until by second U/S in a 10 days. I went in for my 18-22 U/S neally 2 weeks ago when I was 17w6d pregnant. The sonographer said that I was only measuring between 16w3d & 17w0d and the Humerus was measuring 18w3d. I'm really worried as I know that I was definately 17w6d, as I had 3 U/S early only the last being 10w6d, which all gave me the same due date, making me 17w6d at the time of the scan. She said that everything is probably just fine, as my DD always measured around 3-6days behind her dates and was only born 2.95kg. So she said that our little boy may just be small as well. She said that she would include in the report that another U/S be performed in 2-3 weeks not only to check on dates, but to make sure that nothing was missed as he was a little smaller than normal when these checks are performed at the 18-22week U/S.

I noticed on the report where it says the measurements and dates that there is a +/- 5d to +/-1w3d variable. Could this just prove that my new little man is just going to be small like his big sister was? Any advise would be greatly appreciated, I'm hoping that Alan might see this post and help me out.

I'm going in for another scan on the 26th of February, then I should be 20w6d. I'm praying that everything will be o.k.

Hey there MummyMel,

Sounds very normal to me. There is a big range of size variant, I was told up to 2 weeks at this stage. I guess it's just like people...I was always tiny and the smallest out of my age group wherever I went and I was born 5 and a half pound at full term. I am just a small person, it's genes.

Also when I was booking into my 18-22 week ultrasound, i was told they prefer to wait till 19-20 weeks because the measurements are way more accurate then. So it didn't surprise me when I ended up having to get a 16 week scan done that bub was measuring a whole week behind, but when I went along for my 20 week scan, bub was right on dates.

From what you said and from what I know onto my third pregnancy, I've always been told a two week variant under 20 weeks is very normal. You will find out for sure at your next scan, and it's great you are booked in already to have it done. Probably bubs measurements will be a bit closer, or you could be just having a small bub like your other child.

Hope that helps and someone else will be able to help out too :hug: Try not to worry hun, as hard as it can be.

Not only that but your baby is growing at it's own, unique rate. It takes small babies and big babies to make the mathematically calculated averages. Same goes after the birth... not all of us are the same size fully grown, babies are exactly the same.

Thank you ladies, your input is greatly appreciated. I feel better already knowing what you have told me. Thank you:) Fingers crossed the next scan will be more to my due dates or my little man is just small and nothing is wrong.

My cousin was told this & told to stop smoking as her baby was of a dangerously low weight.... She had her & she was (OOOH cant remember got baby brain, but over 10lbs, maybe even 12lb's?) Sorry forgot, but they had NFI!!!!

This would be normal, my last u/s at 20 weeks, shows I was 19 weeks, when I was definately 20 weeks

I seriously wouldn't worry about it. I was told this all 3 of my boys and all but Ashton who was born prem was 6lb or over when born.

With Ashton I had a scan on the Tuesday and was told he was currently 4lb 11oz imagine my horror when I got contractions later that same day and went into early labour. Ashton was born around 40 hours later and came out at 5lb 13oz !! So definitely don't read too much into it.

Love

i wouldn't worry too much at this stage, especially since bub is only measuring a week or so off - and it's still early days. During my first preg i was always told that my DD was small for dates and when she arrived premmie at 34weeks she was nearly 5 pound (which is a great size for being so early). I recently had my 25week scan with this bub and was told she's measuring 3 weeks off - so this time they are actually a little more concerned (but she also has a heart defect so supposedly it's normal for bubs with that to grow at a much slower rate). There isn't much they can do anyway except give me fortnightly scans to check my placenta is feeding her correctly etc. I'm only a small person, as well as my DD and family members so i'm not expecting big babies anyway.
I'm sure your little munchkin is fine and will either catch up or just be a slightly smaller bub :)

Hey there,
I had a similar problem a few weeks age with an u/s dating me 2 weeks less than i though. I had a look through a few books and info and found that any u/s after 113w is only accurate to within 2 weeks.
The only way to have a 'dating' scan is before the 13 week mark where the scans are more accurat (to within 3-4 days)
Don't stress too much!!! I was a little confused, but have been advised to stick with original due date as I am also pretty sure of this.

Good luck:)
Nicky

Thank you ladies it is very reassuring to know this. I guess my little boy is more than likely just going to be born small like his sister.
Thanks again for your kind words.:)

Hi Mummy Mel
It sounds OK to me. As Kelly said babies grow at different rates. Also the U/S is known to often show that the baby is going to be small / large only to discover, when the baby is born it is of normal weight and size. I think youor baby will be fine.

Thanks Alan.:D

I think its interesting that you say babys grow at different rates because my Sonographer who is also a specialist Ob at Nepean said that bubs are all the same size up to 21 weeks which is when they start putting on fat.

I am measureing a week behind my EDD going off LMP. He said that i ovulated late and im a week behind the hospital dates. I asked him if there was any chance that this bub is just a bit smaller and my dates are correct and this is when he said about them all growing and being the same size and length. Its annoying to get different opinions.
My Ob at hospital said he wasnt going to alter the dates to marry up with the U/S but last app. he wrote down the u/s date.....arrrrrrggghhhh.