Anyone had this?
I'm 33w6d, baby is measuring 31w4d. I had my growth ultrasound today and I have a dr appt tomorrow. They didn't say much at my ultrasound, other than that he's measuring 2w2d behind and that that's considered intrauterine growth restriction. The ultrasound tech showed the results to a dr, who said it was okay for me to go home tonight but to keep my appt in the am.
pear / 1723 posts
You will most likely just be monitored more closely, with ultrasounds and possibly NSTs, until they find a cause for concern. Did they take a good look at your placenta and fluid levels?
I didn't have diagnosed IGR, but one of my twins was quite small and it was because her placenta was calcifying faster than her brothers. She was developmentally perfect, just low birth weight even at full term.
Good luck!
coconut / 8475 posts
@septemberlove: I hope everything will be ok! That's scary to first hear, I bet:)
The lady who I nannied for in college had this with all 4 of her pregnancies & her kids are 100% fine!
She was induced between 36-38w with all of them:) she loves inductions haha because they went well for her and she majorly a planner so she said she didn't mind induction dates. I babysat one of her babes as young as 5w old (born at 36w) and she seemed healthy as can be, honestly.
nectarine / 2127 posts
The u/s tech said the blood flow through the cord looked good, fluid levels looked good. The original reason for the growth u/s was because my BP has been up a bit since 16 weeks. I was put on a small dose of BP meds and my BP has been okay on the meds, my dr kept saying that it was fine since I started the meds and I was measuring fine by fundal height but because of the BP situation starting so early, he wanted a growth u/s.
That appt was 2 weeks ago and he was just like "I'm sure he's going to be fine, it's totally precautionary" so we never talked about if things weren't okay.
The u/s tech said he's measuring in the 3 percentile at 3.9 pounds at 33w6d and that I'd be in for NSTs and extra ultrasounds over the next few weeks. I'm so scared. I probably shouldn't have come home and googled it, it just made me feel worse. But, I do have a ton of questions to ask now.
The worst part is the feeling of guilt. Did I do something wrong? Did I not eat healthfully enough? Have I been working too much (it's tax season and I've been working 60-65 hours a week)?
I really hope that the dr puts me on bedrest between tomorrow and my next u/s so I can focus on resting (I've only been getting a few hours of sleep per night) and eating healthier so that LO can grow. I don't know if I can even concentrate on work. I'm so mad at myself.
I really hope LO grows more! The u/s tech said it was a good sign that the blood flow was good and he was really active (he kept kicking at the u/s wand) and that part of the issue might just be that he'll be a small baby. DH was 7lb7oz and I was 7lb8oz (and I was 8 days late). So if LO put on a 1/2 pound per week over the next 6 weeks, since they're estimating he's about 3.9 pounds right now, that'd put him at 7 pounds at birth, which is probably about what I would've been had I not been 8 days late. My SIL just had a baby (1 day late) who was 6lb2oz so I'm kind of thinking part of it might just be that he'll be little. I'm 5'1, DH is 5'6... But I also think part of it is due to the blood pressure.
I just can't wait until morning to get a chance to talk to the dr.
GOLD / coconut / 8266 posts
I don't have any advice but I hope everything goes well at your appointment tomorrow.
pomegranate / 3275 posts
I don't know anything about this, but I just looked it up quick because I found it hard to believe that YOU could have done anything. And it looks like you couldn't have done anything unless you are malnourished, which I highly doubt you are. Don't blame yourself, it sounds like you are just bound to have a tiny baby.
nectarine / 2127 posts
@MamaBehr: thanks, I appreciate that. I haven't told DH about my guilt, I'm afraid I'd burst into tears. I know he doesn't think it's my fault or anything like that but I still just feel like a failure. It was my job to keep LO safe and healthy and he isn't safe or healthy at this point and it just kills me.
My appt is in an hour, I didn't sleep hardly at all last night. I stayed up reading about IUGR. Luckily there are a ton of happy stories out there about people who were in my shoes at one point.
Overwhelming I read about the ultrasounds just being plain wrong. Stuff like the day this lady was induced, the ultrasound showed her LO would be about 4.5 pounds and she had a 6 pounder.
DH kept saying he thought the ultrasound was probably off and to not get upset.
I hope the dr has reassuring things to say this morning. I think if LO hasn't grown enough by our next u/s, he's probably coming out. But I'll know more in a few hours.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
@septemberlove: Good luck at your appointment. I hope your Dr. can answer your questions.
pear / 1698 posts
I was induced at 38 weeks because my LO stopped growing. She was born 5 lbs 2 oz. she was perfectly healthy, she left the hospital at 4 lbs 11 oz, and didn't require any extra time in the hospital or monitoring. She's 5 months old now and is meeting all of her milestones! If you go to my profile, I started some topics about measuring small and got some great advice.
pomegranate / 3275 posts
@septemberlove I hope that everything goes smoothly and you see a happy healthy baby on at the ultrasound. 
pomegranate / 3225 posts
My belly was always measuring two or three weeks behind. She measured fine at the ultrasounds. They kept telling me she'd be small, but she ended up being a week late and 8lbs 4 oz. I stressed so much about it, and I know it's hard not to, but sometimes I think all this technology makes things much worse! Good luck!
watermelon / 14206 posts
Good luck...don't feel guilty! There's nothing you did to cause any harm, and I'm sure your baby will be fine. Keep us posted!
nectarine / 2878 posts
Good luck! I hope that everything goes great and will be waiting on an update
pineapple / 12793 posts
Good luck today! Ultrasounds can be really off. I've heard it compared to guessing some ones weight while standing in another room blindfolded.
apricot / 263 posts
I got an IUGR diagnosis and, after an initial period of feeling super stressed, actually found the extra monitoring very reassuring. I had ultrasounds every 3 weeks and liked seeing the baby's development. I managed to avoid bedrest, but I did go in for the non-stress testing near the end of pregnancy. That was a little tedious but not a big deal.
One thing I did was put myself on a self-directed high-protein diet. My OB told me that even if I gained 50 pounds, it probably wouldn't change things for the baby. But it made me feel better (on an emotional level) and keeping my spirits up was important. I bought chocolate whey protein powder at Trader Joe's and made myself a shake with bananas, peanut butter and chocolate frozen yogurt every day.
DD was 5 lbs 15 ounces at birth and at almost 4 months is still a tiny human (in the second percentile for weight and length), but eating well and totally healthy! So don't lose heart. IUGR babies are fighters.
nectarine / 2127 posts
I had my appt and the dr seemed very optimistic. He said that since I'm 34 weeks, the risks of serious complications from LO being born early are pretty small. The plan is to do ultrasounds and NSTs every week (NST 2x a week) and at the first sign of stress, LO gets evicted. If we make it to 37 weeks without any stress signs, LO will probably be born via c-section. He said IUGR babies can't really deal with labor well and at 37 weeks, keeping him inside would only happen if he was a solutely thriving (which dr doesn't feel is likely).
So worst case scenario, LO is born at 34.5 weeks (when I have my first NST) and spends a couple of weeks in NICU. Best case scenario, we get to 37 weeks and he gets to come home with us.
GOLD / squash / 13464 posts
@septemberlove: I'm sure all this information must be scary to take in. But it sounds like your doctor has a great plan in place for you and is very optomistic about LO's care so that's really great news! Just try to take it in stride... you will have a healthy LO in your arms before you know it. And in the mean time.... REST!! I know tax season is brutul but the health of you and baby are much more important than tax returns!
coconut / 8475 posts
@septemberlove: hey-those scenarios aren't too bad at all! Don't feel guilty and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy. :)))
cherry / 181 posts
Keeping you in my prayers! I have a friend currently going through this although she is much earlier in pregnancy (26 weeks). Sometimes they suggest bed rest to improve the circulation to the placenta.
nectarine / 2127 posts
Thanks everyone
It's definitely been an emotional roller coaster the past 24 hours but I'm feeling better after hearing the worst case scenario, which isn't that bad. I hope he hangs in there til 37 weeks though, I don't want to see him in NICU and I think if we can get him to 37 weeks, it'll just be better all around.
It's kind of exciting that he might be here in three weeks but I just want him healthy and safe first and foremost.
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