https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Jul 2026 20:04:52 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2567433 Wed, 15 Jun 2016 07:51:00 +0000 winniebee 2567433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: That is such great news!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2567401 Wed, 15 Jun 2016 07:38:13 +0000 Pumuckl 2567401@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: So happy to read this positive update! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2567390 Wed, 15 Jun 2016 07:31:55 +0000 Alivoo01 2567390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Glad to hear such great news from the test!</p> <p>Both of my kids were considered IUGR babies (DS was 4.13 at birth and DD was 5.4 at birth). Both were healthy in utero, but I was monitored weekly just in case by both my OB and MFM for fluid levels and growth watch. I delivered at 37 and 38 weeks, respectively as they didn't feel comfortable leaving them in longer as longer isn't always better. Both are thriving on the outside world and are just like any other kids their age. Just smaller, but hey! someone's gotta bring in the bottom percentile right? ha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2567380 Wed, 15 Jun 2016 07:24:08 +0000 delight 2567380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: oh I'm so happy for you!!!!! What a wonderful relief. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2567375 Wed, 15 Jun 2016 07:18:53 +0000 PinkElephant 2567375@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>update:</p> <p>Updating with the happy news that we got our first rounds of tests back after my amnio on Monday and things look good! Baby girl is cleared not to have Trisomy 21 (Downs), Trisomy 18, Trisomy 13, or a problem on the sex chromosomes. We still have to wait for final results to be sure everything else is ok, but our doctor is super optimistic and seems to think we will just be monitoring her growth to be sure she doesn't drop below her current curve. I'm so relieved! Thanks so much for the support! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2566464 Mon, 13 Jun 2016 19:33:15 +0000 PinkElephant 2566464@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: @MrsSCB: @delight: Thanks for the support, ladies! We opted for FISH and I have a regular appt tomorrow; the MFM doctor who did the amnio is optimistic that I could have results at that appt; if not they should be in by Thursday. Fingers crossed they'll be enough to have the bulk of this issue behind us and move on to growth monitoring with a bit less worry! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2566439 Mon, 13 Jun 2016 18:47:12 +0000 delight 2566439@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: thinking about you and hoping everything comes back great. Waiting for amnio results is pretty awful so I hope you can take your mind off things. I spent a couple days reading trashy magazines and watching movies, while DD was at daycare. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2566428 Mon, 13 Jun 2016 18:27:17 +0000 MrsSCB 2566428@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: Glad to hear it went well, I hope you get good news from it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2566418 Mon, 13 Jun 2016 18:07:11 +0000 winniebee 2566418@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: good I'll be waiting to hear your positive update. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2566389 Mon, 13 Jun 2016 16:40:28 +0000 PinkElephant 2566389@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sera_87: Wow! Actually, seeing this I now remember a few of your posts. Thanks for chiming in. So glad to hear he is home with you and doing well.</p> <p>.@lilyann: thanks!</p> <p>I'm home and resting and wanted to update for anyone in a similar situation who finds this thread - the amnio, while emotionally difficult and a bit uncomfortable, was a pinch and done cramping, and over very quickly. My geneticist was lovely, and the doctor who did the amnio was pleasant and professional. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2566168 Mon, 13 Jun 2016 13:09:37 +0000 lilyann 2566168@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: Keeping you in my thoughts :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2566166 Mon, 13 Jun 2016 13:08:17 +0000 sera_87 2566166@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: yep, 7 months. Came home last week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2566157 Mon, 13 Jun 2016 13:03:12 +0000 PinkElephant 2566157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sera_87: thank you. Did he end up doing a long NICU stay? Is he doing well now?</p> <p>@Pirouette: thank you!</p> <p>Heading to geneticist and presumably amnio appointment today. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2566136 Mon, 13 Jun 2016 12:29:56 +0000 sera_87 2566136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: maternity21 only gives specific results for the most common ones. An amnio gives a more complete picture on more. </p> <p>That being said, however, I had an amnio with #3 for the same reason as you. I probably won't do it again. It was painful and stressful and I do not wish for a repeat, ever.<br /> He ended up being beyond severe IUGR; diagnosed around 15 weeks, delivered at 31. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2565949 Mon, 13 Jun 2016 09:02:46 +0000 Pirouette 2565949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: I hope you get some answers and peace of mind this week. IUGR is such a complicated diagnosis, because I think there are so many reasons and non-reasons for it (it could be something or it could be nothing), and it presents in so many different ways that it's hard to draw any conclusions. so better to be armed with as much knowledge as possible i guess. FWIW, my daughter (and likely now my son's) IUGR was the opposite - the "bad" kind, because the head size was very very small and the rest was at or just below normal levels. so of course we were freaking out about what that meant, because it tends to indicate developmental issues. Until i thought about how hard it is for me to buy sunglasses to fit my little head, and realized I'm petite all over, but a small head is not all that surprising for my kids. my daughter has no issues whatsoever, so I'm trying to be confident the same will be true of my son. It's not easy, but just keep looking at your perfect kids as a reminder :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2565638 Sat, 11 Jun 2016 22:17:04 +0000 Mrs. Pink 2565638@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our newbie was IUGR- it was diagnosed after our 32 week ultrasound- she was at 33rd percentile from 18 weeks to 32 and dropped to 5th after that (and I think lower but they never gave me any more numbers, she was born at 36+2 via csection when her heart rate started dropping on NST and they noted poor blood flow through the cord, which was 2 vessel)</p> <p>She was born at 3lbs 15oz and spent 9 days in the SCBU, she's a month old now and is doing fabulous.</p> <p>There is an IUGR Support Group in Facebook! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2565636 Sat, 11 Jun 2016 22:10:07 +0000 Ms.Badger 2565636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: To be honest, there is a lot unknown regarding in utero presentations of known genetic conditions. So I would just go into your meeting with the geneticist/genetic councilor with an open mind and hear what they have to say. </p> <p>I do not believe that an good geneticist / genetic councilor believes all women should terminate their babies with genetic disease. They definitely want you to have all information that is relevant to you, and they understand that some women may not want any genetic information regarding their child. A geneticist I know is having a baby with Downs, so please believe me when I say they most likely only have you and your baby's best interest at heart. Feel free to wall me with anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2565632 Sat, 11 Jun 2016 22:01:52 +0000 PinkElephant 2565632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ms.Badger: Thank you for weighing in! That was a condition on my mind, and a good argument for why it's better to find as much as we can (and why a blood test might not be enough). My husband is already convinced on the amnio and, as you're saying, I suspect that after we see the geneticist on Monday, I'll be more convinced, too. Neither of us has any "known" info to share with the geneticist (we've just double checked on both sides of the family), but I understand there are just so many random mutations that can happen. Sigh....waiting sucks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2565626 Sat, 11 Jun 2016 21:34:40 +0000 Ms.Badger 2565626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: I think having a detailed conversation with a geneticist is the best idea! Depending on growth parameters, they may also suspect some types of short-limbed dwarfism or other single gene conditions in addition to chromosomal abnormalities. Only chromosomal abnormalities are detected by cell-free DNA testing like Materniti21. You should get a list of single gene syndromes that they suspect, what genetic testing they would do, how long the results take and how likely it is to find a genetic cause if that disease is actually present. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2565617 Sat, 11 Jun 2016 20:46:04 +0000 PinkElephant 2565617@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: I just had the First Trimester Screening bloodwork for Downs and spina bifida that accompany the NT scan, and was told that my results were all within normal range. Because I'm under 35 and had no apparent risk factors, my doctor did not want to order Maternity21. </p> <p>My question is the same as yours - why not do that first? I plan to ask this when I see the geneticist, and when I go back to MFM. I have suspicions as to why they're pressuring me to get more info earlier on....but I'm not really sure that amnio results are much faster than Maternity21...and if truly the #1 concern they have is Downs (and not an abnormality that endangers my life or the baby's), the urgency to "find out and perhaps do something about it" upsets me a lot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2565613 Sat, 11 Jun 2016 20:31:53 +0000 winniebee 2565613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: I forget dis you do maternity 21 or other testing? Is it too late for quad screening? Why jump to amnio? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2565610 Sat, 11 Jun 2016 20:16:31 +0000 PinkElephant 2565610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: Thanks for taking time out to explain the specifics of your experience with DS2. I was similar in my second pregnancy - by 28 weeks DD2's legs were measuring a good 3 wks behind her head. I strongly suspect (and hope) that as my history suggests, I just grow small babies. That feeling is what makes me reluctant about plunging straight into amnio until I get more info from the geneticist on what exactly they're concerned about. Right now all they've mentioned to me is increased Downs Syndrome risk based on short limbs.</p> <p>@catlady: I really appreciate this - thank you. I'm still very torn about the amnio but am leaning towards doing it, with miscarriage risk being the number one reason I don't want to. I've been reading the same thing online, but it's nice to hear it from someone else.</p> <p>@Zbug: Thanks for sharing that. I've been told by a close friend that the anxiety is the worst, and that she also did bedrest/modified bedrest after to feel like she was giving her body the best chance to heal. My MIL is coming in tomorrow to be with us so I can rest up both before and after the procedure if I go ahead with it.</p> <p>@T.H.O.U.: Thanks! Nice to read a positive story. Though OMG, after having two 5.5 pounders, the thought of a 9+ pound baby is pretty terrifying as well! :) </p> <p>@Pirouette: Thank you! The only thing MFM has mentioned to me is an increased Downs risk (which STILL doesn't put me into the high risk category, technically). We are seeing a geneticist this week before the amnio is scheduled so I can clarify what else it is they're concerned about based on my scan. I was wondering the same thing about the placenta, but feel like that should have been notable in the scan. They're not offering CVS, where they'd take cells from the placenta, just amnio.</p> <p>@skipra: I pulled my previous two anatomy scans and intend to take them to my appointment. Unfortunately they were done 1 &amp; 3 weeks later, so the measurements are of course a little bigger. They're slightly higher percentiles than this one, but still small. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2564996 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 07:18:39 +0000 winniebee 2564996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@QBbride: yes asymmetric is better than symmetric growth restriction apparently! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2564995 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 07:16:21 +0000 winniebee 2564995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a similar experience with DS2. DS1 was born 5 lb 5 oz and 17.5 inches and at age 4 he's still a peanut. Dad and I are small, 5'2 and 5'6 so we didn't expect to have large babies. For DS2 they picked up his smaller growth at 24/28 weeks (can't remember) and then I had a grown scan at 30 weeks which showed asymmetric growth (head to belly ratio off). As a result I had bi-weekly growth scans at high risk doctor and on the off weeks an ultrasound at my OB to measure biophysical profile (cord flow, fluid, practice breathing). He always grew along his curve so we weren't particularly worried, just felt that we would have a small baby again. I was termed "suspected IUGR". At 38 weeks the growth ultrasound showed no growth from 36 weeks so I was induced that day. It was a little scary, but he was totally fine. Born 5 lb 6 oz and 19 inches. Technically I was deemed IUGR but in the end my OB thinks I just have constitutionally small babies. I know it's a little scary and it will suck to have extra monitoring but just take solace in knowing you'll be closely watched and if growth stalls you'll be induced a little early. Good luck :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2564921 Thu, 09 Jun 2016 22:15:20 +0000 QBbride 2564921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh no! I honestly wouldn't worry too much about it, considering everything looked good on your scan and your other babies were small. Also, it's actually a good thing that the IUGR is "asymmetrical" with a larger head, but you probably know that from your other babies! If you're feeling uneasy about the amino, I'd wait for the follow up growth scan if that's what you prefer. Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2564904 Thu, 09 Jun 2016 21:36:43 +0000 PinkElephant 2564904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks so much for all of this - I've calmed my mind enough to get some sleep at this point, so I'm going to reply individually in the AM. Really appreciate all the kind thoughts and positive stories! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2564861 Thu, 09 Jun 2016 20:24:58 +0000 catlady 2564861@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have no experience with any of this, and I'm sorry you're going through this, but just wanted to chime in because I recently read a book (Expecting Better) which said that the risks commonly reported from amnios are way too high as they are based on really old studies (where doctors didn't have current technology), and that amnios are much safer these days. I know that doesn't help with the growth worries, but thought it might make you feel better if you do decide to go forward with an amnio. Hugs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2564851 Thu, 09 Jun 2016 20:13:05 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2564851@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: <a href="http://www.hellobee.com/2013/10/18/iugr-diagnosis-and-a-surprise/" rel="nofollow">http://www.hellobee.com/2013/10/18/iugr-diagnosis-and-a-surprise/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2564829 Thu, 09 Jun 2016 19:50:50 +0000 Pirouette 2564829@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My first was iugr, but my practice won't officially diagnose it until late in the 3rd tri. So I'm surprised that the ultrasound department would jump to that conclusion so early on. I have been monitored every 4 weeks this pregnancy, and this baby is starting to fall behind at 28 weeks, but the doctors have basically said they'll just continue to monitor his growth until I'm further along or he falls further behind. </p> <p>My only thought here is that the asymmetrical nature has them worried about the placenta, but i don't know exactly what an amnio checks for? I'd think the protocol would be weekly bpps if the placenta was a concern. </p> <p>As someone who clearly makes small babies too, I'm sure your baby is perfect! :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/early-iugr-any-experience#post-2564804 Thu, 09 Jun 2016 19:35:03 +0000 skipra 2564804@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: Do you remember the percentile or sizes of your other LO's around the same time? My first measured on the smaller size at the anatomy scan and also at a follow up scan a few weeks later for an unrelated issue, but like 20-30%. It was not until much later on that he was measuring below the fifth %. I think a lot can be said for your other LOs' growth but I would guess they are worried about what would happen if growth slows even further. Hoping it's just what's normal for you! And it is totally normal for them do want to do tons of scans whenever there is any mention of IUGR in your history. My first was considered IUGR, born at 5lbs 12oz and I had several growth scans with my second even though he consistently measured average. Now with my third I will need to have at least 1 extra scan but more if I measure small and I was already 1 cm behind at 24 weeks so I have no doubt that it will lead to more scans. </p>