Anyone had experience of small for dates scans at Kings?

[Yak]

Just been referred - I'm 34 weeks and MW reckons I'm measuring 29cm.

If possible I'd prefer to hear views about what questions to ask and what will happen when we're at Kings rather than on possible outcomes at this stage. I am trying to resist the temptation to ask Professor Google.....

[ryedalema]

Hi Yak - I had small for dates scans and all was completely fine (but I know you don't want to talk outcomes). I asked:

- does a low birth weight affect my birth plan in any way?

- does a low birth weight affect his/her post natal care in any way?

- does a low birth weight affect his/her growth/development in any way?

I got no's for both.

As for process - it's exactly the same as a normal scan.

Good luck...xxx

[CFM]

Try not to worry. Midwife measurements are not all that scientific - wouldn't nature be incredible if at 34 weeks we all measured the same?? I was referred for a small for dates scan for my first and he was a decent 8 lb 2 oz in the end and always 90 th centile after that. Scan is identical to other ones, pretty similar to your first in terms of length of time required. Not as long as the 20 wk one as i recall. They should be able to give you a birth weight estimate.

[Fuschia]

I measured really small with the last baby, and fluid wasn't low... he was normal sized both on the scans and at birth.

[mollydoodle]

I measured small and was sent for this scan at 38 weeks to be told they thought baby was already 8lbs 10 in size which worried me as to what size she would be when she arrived as ended up going eleven days late to have a 8lbs 1 baby so even the info they give you at the scan is an estimate and bump size is nothing to go by!! It was a super quick scan though.

[ryedalema]

And on the plus side - you get to have loads more in utero photos!!

[Ann]

I agree with the others. If your baby is a bit small they will rescan to check that the baby is continuing to grow and that the placenta is working well. Enjoy the extra scan and for what it's worth birth weight hardly ever correlates to a child/adult size; so a 6lb newborn could end up larger that a 9 pounder only one would be easier to get out!

[Kes]

Hi,

If he/she is small I'd ask if it was still in the normal range, if not, can they tell if he/she has been small all along or there is a reason the growth has slowed and how is that likely to effect the rest of the pregnancy - will they want to get the baby out early or try to keep it in for as long as possible?

Also - ask how sure they are! It's pretty hard to make things out at that point as it's all very crushed in there!

To add to what others have said I was sent for a scan for the same reason at 34 weeks, the woman took one look at me and said "don't worry - you're fine!" the scan backed her up and I ended up with a 9lb 10oz whopper! While a friend of mine had no indications of being small and had a 3lb full term baby (who's totally fine).

Fingers crossed for you, I've never heard of anyone being sent for a scan for being small who actually was!

K

[Fuschia]

48h after my twins were estimated at 4lb 14 and 6lb 14 they were born at 5lb 5 and 6lb 4!

[sillywoman]

Has anyone ever been given a baby weight estimate by Kings/Tommies/wherever that was completely accurate, or even quite close? I only ask because I've never yet met anyone who has, but I feel like they must surely exist or else why would the hospitals keep giving out such inaccurate, and often worrying (is my baby too small/big?) information? Are you out there?

[snowboarder]

Yep I am. Baby 1 estimated at 10lb 4 oz at 39 wks, born at 10lb 7oz 3 days later (I know, i know!!) Baby 2 estimated current weight at 38wks was 8lb 7oz, born at 9lb 9oz at 40 weeks. And they reckon baby can put on anything between 0.5 to 1 pound week at that age, so in my case pretty accurate. Bump size was all over the place though - esp asbaby kep turning and moving down etc. At one point I measured about 43 weeks...baby turned and engaged and went down to 37cm!!

[buggie]

I was told the bugglet was small at the 12/40 scan - was scanned 5/7 later to check she'd grown, at 20/40 scan was told I had unequal uterine artery pressures (more chance of pre-eclampsia/inter-uterine growth restriction).

I had to have extra scan at 28/40, then was diagnosed with gestational diabetes so had further scans at 32, 36 and 39wks (think last scan was to ensure placenta ok so could go to 40/40 before induction).

I was really concerned through the pregnancy that I didn't seem to be showing much/have a v big bump (ended up having serious bump envy of all other pregnant women - I know, I should have appreciated it!), and only once did my bump seem to measure the correct number of weeks - as I was being scanned so regularly, and the measurements they took seemed to be following the centile (they thought 9th centile).

At 39wk scan they predicted bugglet was 6lb 3oz... 6 days later she was born weighing 4lb 10oz! Luckily she is perfect in every other way, but have had hassle from HV's as *surprisingly* she is still below the 0.4th centile (she's pretty much on the 0.2nd centile - if there was one!).

So, on the one hand I was right to worry about her growth/my size as she was tiny (and no one has ever said why), but on the other, she's fab and I wouldn't swap her for anything in the world - hope you can enjoy your pregnancy x

[Yak]

Thanks, everyone. I've always had a pretty small bump (which, like all things in pregnancy means everyone thinks they have a right to comment on!) and measured small for weeks but I suspect the Yaklet has just dropped a bit lower down. I shall definitely enjoy seeing him / her again - given the amount of kicking that is still going on I have no doubt the baby is doing nothing other than thriving!

[Fuschia]

As well as the size, they check the blood flow to the placenta and the baby's blood flow and I think that is a better indicator of any problems than the size itself (which is generlaly seen as Ok as long as a line is being followed, increasing in line with the percentile line, roughly)

[charlottep]

Yak, you're tall and slim (we met when you bought my maclaren) and I wonder if that's just the way you carry. You remind me very much of my good friend who has measured small in both her pregnancies (referred for scans too) but who has gone on to have 7Ib babies.