Likely significant IUGR

I am hoping someone will have some experience with something similar and be able to offer some reassurance or insight....

I had a scan on Wednesday to check bubs growth. I am 37.5 weeks and my obs has been monitoring carefully for about a month due to the baby being small.

Baby is 2.2kg, HC 29cm, AC 29cm. Still growing but on the graph the fetal specialist showed me the baby was at the very low end of normal and just below normal on the measurements.

The report said "all measures small. Likely significant IUGR (intrauterine growth retardation). SPecialist did not give me much info but asked when I was seeing my obst next and what he had preciously discussed with me (possible induction).

The placenta, cord and fluid are all normal. I have put on enough weight during my pregnancy. I just cannot stop thinking about this IUGR thing and stupidly googled it, only to find out there are lots of possibilities.

It's now 3 am and I can't sleep because I am worrying. Can anyone help??

Those scans have a fairly big margin of error and are anything up to 15% out either way - bubs could be 15% smaller or 15% bigger. Either way, at 37.5wks to have a baby only 2.2kg (or a smidge under 5lb on the old scale) isn't that bad considering that they put on the most weight in the last 4wks of pg, which could be at least another 500-600g - or more if you go the full 42wks. So it may not be IUGR, it could be that you are just going to have a small baby instead, which is fine too - they don't all have to be whoppers. As far as I know IUGR babies are still perfectly healthy babies, just small.

I'm sure that there is nothing to worry about :)

My bub had IUGR, but I went into labour and delivered him at 35 weeks. We were still at the monitoring stage at that point. His head was fine, but the rest of him was tiny. I was never given a weight 'guesstimate', only measurements. My Ob wanted him monitored, and said he would only induce if his growth started to drop. If he stayed small, but continued to gain at a similar rate, then I would be allowed to go into labour when bubs was ready. We assumed that the placenta was the problem, but it was very healthy.

FWIW he was tiny for months. He struggled to put on weight, and only really 'got the hang of it' at about 5 months. He is now in the 25th percentile, which is great because for a long time he was not even on the charts. So it seems that he was destined to be small and grow at a slow rate!

Try not to stress, I'm sure your bub will be fine, just tiny. And tiny bubs are so cute :D

my last 2 children i had IUGR with both of them 1 of them was born at 35 weeks weighing 3.6lb and the other born at 36 weeks weighing 4lb with my first no one knew i had IUGR at that stage until i couldnt feel my little man move for a couple of days and went into emergency were once they relized how small and how distressed he was he was born in a matter of a hour and with my next one they monitered her more and i was in hospital for just under 2 weeks also with high blood pressure were every second day i had a ultrasound to check how much food she was getting. the dr told me the first time i got IUGR it is more common with people that take drugs and i have never taken them and he also said it is uncommon to get it twice which i did with the next pregnancy so all i say is IUGR can happen to anyone and as long as you are getting monitered your baby will be fine. If your little one is born now he/she is small but a good size just keep postive

My IUGR baby was born at 34w weighing 1.9 kilos, so yours sounds FINE.

I agree with Trillian - just wait and see.

My IUGR baby came home at 10 days old weighing 2.02 kilos, BF fine and is now slight but average height - just like his father. If you and your DH/DP are small too, this also comes into it.

I was 2 weeks late and weighed 5lbs, and I'm FINE... trust me!

Thanks for the replies. All very reassuring.

I my obs visit this morning and he has decided to deliver the baby by caesar on Wednesday (28th). SO in 2 days I'll be a mummy. He said induction or waiting for natural birth could put te baby under too much stress as the fetal specialist was quite worried about the baby. The obst did stress that he could be wrong, could just be on the small side but it would be better for the baby to be not put under the stress of a vaginal birth.

So...I am very nervous, teary and crossing everything, hoping everything is fine. I'm sure it will be!!

Good luck with birthing your baby my love... Wishing you the blessings of women thru the ages as you bring your baby into the world.:hug:

My baby Imogen began to track on the lowest centile and had to be born due to my illness - she was 250g lighter than suggested by u/s.

Nicca, I'm sure she will be perfect in everyway and the extra two weeks gives her a little more time to grow big and strong. Good luck for your birth - it will be amazing :)

Hi,
We have found out our baby has likely IUGR. I had a lot of bleeding at 17.5 weeks and 26 weeks. The drs put it down to that and the blood flow through palcenta isnt normal. I am 34 weeks, hes about 3.7 pounds, HC 28 cm, AC 27 approx. Having weekly ultrasounds for dopler and growth scans and CTG monitoring twice a week. Any change and they will get him out but probably be in 2 weeks as he might be better off out than in. Its pretty scary from the uncertainity of it all but my husband and i are staying really positive. My baby's heartbeat is strong and I have lots of movements. I just cant wait to hold him and know that hes okay. Its great to beable to read other peoples storys and know that the outcomes are usually good. Anybody else going through a similar thing?

Sounds like any baby that is smaller than the'norm' is labelled with IUGR. Some people just bake them smaller!!! Its such a horrible 'lable' for small babies!

My twins both has IUGR. Twin 1 was 1400g and twin 2 was 1800 grams. They are both now 5 years old and healthy and huge for their age- so no long term probs. They were 10 weeks early.

Elle's at 34 weeks, your bubba is not a bad size i reckon. Still time to put on weight, keep going!! As long as bubba is strong, they just need to grow when they come out.


My SIL has had 5 kids and they have all been born around 2kg each at 36+ weeks. She just bakes them small, but they are all a good size as well!


Good luck nicca- not not long till you are a mumma

Not everyone is the same size when we are adults- some are small and some are big- its the same with babies. As long as they are healthy- it shouldnt be a problem

take care

odette

Hi Odette,
thanks. Well next Tuesday Iam booked in for a c-section. I will be just 36 weeks. not sure how big he is but he will probably be just under 4 pounds. Dam Iam feeling scared but everyone says it will be okay, even the doctors.

good luck next tuesday hon

if the docs arnt stressing, then all is good- docs will always give you worse case senarios as they want to prepare you for the worse ! Something i learnt with my twins!!!

Hang in there 4lbs is still a good size for a 36 weeker. Just think if you were to go full term- bubba would be closer to 7lbs which is a reasonable size for a newborn- so all in perspective!!!
My DH was a 5lb full term baby - he is six foot tall now! So small beginnings mean nothing!
some people just have little bubs

take care

odette