Measuring small for dates-UPDATE!
Hi,
Sorry if I go on a bit here i'm upset 7 need a bit of a rant!
Went to the hospital this morning for my 34 week scan, my midwife came into the room with 2 other midwifes & proceeded to scan me without informing me that she was training on the machine & not to panic because she wasn't fully aware of what she was doing.
She started the scan and was asking the other midwife loads of questions but no one had told me anything & then she announced the head measurement was 31 weeks so I panicked because i'm 34+2 according to a 4d scan I had at 27 weeks.
Anyway she carried on the scan & told me at one point that I was looking at the heartbeat when actually it was the baby having hiccups!
They looked at my placenta which is anterior & noted white spots on it so jumped on me for smoking which I no longer do & haven't done for about 4 months now!
I was really upset at this point but trying not to cry so my midwife (the one without the clue as to how to scan) said we'll bring you back in 2 weeks for another scan & a CTG- I asked was I not going to be told the weight they approximated the baby to be & she said oh well we're not too sure.
Anyway the other woman who seemed to be a supervisory sort said she wasnt happy so she asked did I mind being scanned again now & she would re-take the measurements which she did & the baby seemed to be about 2 weeks out as opposed to the original 3 but it was still small only about 4lb where they thought it would've been about 5lb by now if not more.
I was told to leave work (I was due to finish next friday) and to rest up as much as I can & they would see me in 2 weeks so I left the hospital feeling very anxious & a bit weepy.
About an hour later my mobile rang & it was my midwife to say she wasn't happy with me waiting 2 weeks & so she's made an appointment for me to go for a more detailed scan on Monday afternoon.
I know i'm thinking worst case scenario & that premmie babies can thrive now but I just feel really upset & like this is all my fault. My OH is having a disaster in work today (he owns his own business) and he's running around like a headless chicken & my Mum is away with work so i'm sitting here feeling sorry for myself!
Sorry for the length of this post & thank you for taking the time to read it, writing it has made me feel a bit more relieved.
Lauren xxxx
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey everyone,
First of all thank you for all of the replies they put my mind at ease.
Had another scan today with the consultant who first of all asked me why the MW had changed my due date from my original 12 week scan after I had my 20 week & so she changed me back to 30th March as I had said I was scared of going over & not knowing which date I was going over by as there are 4 different EDD's in my notes!!!!
Anyway she scanned me & agreed that the baby is measuring 3 weeks out by the head measurement & is under average weight for the dates. Said that it could be the head isn't symmetrical but this is something they won't know until baby is born.
My placenta is starting to calcify which usually only happens in people who smoke (I did smoke for first 3 months as didn't know I was expecting) so they are going to monitor this as well but she doesn't think it is anything to do with the placenta & said that there's plenty of fluid around the baby & my blood pressure & protein aren't cause for concern so all in all she's not too worried.
Changed my care from MW led care to Consultant care & I return in 2 weeks for another scan when they will decide if the baby will thrive better outside of the womb but by that stage I will be 37+1 so it's not too early.
Was told again to monitor the baby's movements & if I have any queries regarding them then to phone the hospital & go up for a scan but hopefully Junior will keep on kicking me in the ribs- never thought i'd be pleased to feel it but I am!
Feel very relieved that I saw someone who took the time to go through things with me & appreciated why I was so concerned & also glad to have had a 2nd opinion (and incidentally 3rd as the consultant I saw checked with the senior consultant too) after Friday's episode. Was also told I won't be allowed to go over my due date so in the next 4-5 weeks baby will definitely be here!
This has really re-iterated to me that these people are caring for my baby & for me & I would just like to make sure that if anyone feels concerned about things they may experience when at appointments or they read in their notes to ask the MW or doctor next time they see them because you could be worrying for a reason.
Take care,
Lauren (35+1) xoxo
[Modified by: misslauri86 on 25 February 2008 19:52:19 ]
Sorry if I go on a bit here i'm upset 7 need a bit of a rant!
Went to the hospital this morning for my 34 week scan, my midwife came into the room with 2 other midwifes & proceeded to scan me without informing me that she was training on the machine & not to panic because she wasn't fully aware of what she was doing.
She started the scan and was asking the other midwife loads of questions but no one had told me anything & then she announced the head measurement was 31 weeks so I panicked because i'm 34+2 according to a 4d scan I had at 27 weeks.
Anyway she carried on the scan & told me at one point that I was looking at the heartbeat when actually it was the baby having hiccups!
They looked at my placenta which is anterior & noted white spots on it so jumped on me for smoking which I no longer do & haven't done for about 4 months now!
I was really upset at this point but trying not to cry so my midwife (the one without the clue as to how to scan) said we'll bring you back in 2 weeks for another scan & a CTG- I asked was I not going to be told the weight they approximated the baby to be & she said oh well we're not too sure.
Anyway the other woman who seemed to be a supervisory sort said she wasnt happy so she asked did I mind being scanned again now & she would re-take the measurements which she did & the baby seemed to be about 2 weeks out as opposed to the original 3 but it was still small only about 4lb where they thought it would've been about 5lb by now if not more.
I was told to leave work (I was due to finish next friday) and to rest up as much as I can & they would see me in 2 weeks so I left the hospital feeling very anxious & a bit weepy.
About an hour later my mobile rang & it was my midwife to say she wasn't happy with me waiting 2 weeks & so she's made an appointment for me to go for a more detailed scan on Monday afternoon.
I know i'm thinking worst case scenario & that premmie babies can thrive now but I just feel really upset & like this is all my fault. My OH is having a disaster in work today (he owns his own business) and he's running around like a headless chicken & my Mum is away with work so i'm sitting here feeling sorry for myself!
Sorry for the length of this post & thank you for taking the time to read it, writing it has made me feel a bit more relieved.
Lauren xxxx
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey everyone,
First of all thank you for all of the replies they put my mind at ease.
Had another scan today with the consultant who first of all asked me why the MW had changed my due date from my original 12 week scan after I had my 20 week & so she changed me back to 30th March as I had said I was scared of going over & not knowing which date I was going over by as there are 4 different EDD's in my notes!!!!
Anyway she scanned me & agreed that the baby is measuring 3 weeks out by the head measurement & is under average weight for the dates. Said that it could be the head isn't symmetrical but this is something they won't know until baby is born.
My placenta is starting to calcify which usually only happens in people who smoke (I did smoke for first 3 months as didn't know I was expecting) so they are going to monitor this as well but she doesn't think it is anything to do with the placenta & said that there's plenty of fluid around the baby & my blood pressure & protein aren't cause for concern so all in all she's not too worried.
Changed my care from MW led care to Consultant care & I return in 2 weeks for another scan when they will decide if the baby will thrive better outside of the womb but by that stage I will be 37+1 so it's not too early.
Was told again to monitor the baby's movements & if I have any queries regarding them then to phone the hospital & go up for a scan but hopefully Junior will keep on kicking me in the ribs- never thought i'd be pleased to feel it but I am!
Feel very relieved that I saw someone who took the time to go through things with me & appreciated why I was so concerned & also glad to have had a 2nd opinion (and incidentally 3rd as the consultant I saw checked with the senior consultant too) after Friday's episode. Was also told I won't be allowed to go over my due date so in the next 4-5 weeks baby will definitely be here!
This has really re-iterated to me that these people are caring for my baby & for me & I would just like to make sure that if anyone feels concerned about things they may experience when at appointments or they read in their notes to ask the MW or doctor next time they see them because you could be worrying for a reason.
Take care,
Lauren (35+1) xoxo
[Modified by: misslauri86 on 25 February 2008 19:52:19 ]
0
Replies
about being small for dates, i went thru the same as you last time with my daughter who is now 3. about your time i was sent for many scans and they worried me to death about it so i know exactly how you feel. i was given a scan 2 days before being induced at 10 days over and was told baby would be just about 5lbs so it was classed as ok to go ahead with induction...she was born 2 days later at 7lb2oz!! so please dont worry, they are not always right.
i had a small bump and every new mwife or consultant i saw rushed me away for scan etc.
at first their concern with me was that the placenta wasnt working properly in which case they would give me a c-sec to get the baby out to feed, but it wasnt thought of as a major thing as i was around 34 weeks too, but placenta was fine, so it was ok.
please try not to worry, they willl just want to make double sure everything is ok and you are very ner fullterm too which is a good thing. the baby would only be slightly ealry so thats not seen as a prob, take care and let us know how you get on x
Thanks for all the replies it's good knowing there are others out there who have been through a similar thing. I was 5lb 9oz when I was born so i'm not altogether concerned about the baby being small it was really the way the MW was acting I just wanted her away from me! Thankfully I will be seeing someone else come Monday so i'm not worrying just taking it easy as they have told me to because I know the stress is no good for the baby.
Thanks again & I will let you know how I get on on Monday
Lauren xo
As for them not explaining about the training, that is disgusting. With my daughters 20 week scan, I had a sonogropher who had been away for a while and was re-training. She explained all that before the scan and asked if I was happy to proceed. She gave me a very detailed scan and at the end she got the senior sono in to re check all the measurements. They were very professional and explained everything. I think you should consider complaining about your treatment. They treated you like a piece of meat and made you worry. That is unforgiveable. Good luck hun xx
First of all thank you for all of the replies they put my mind at ease.
Had another scan today with the consultant who first of all asked me why the MW had changed my due date from my original 12 week scan after I had my 20 week & so she changed me back to 30th March as I had said I was scared of going over & not knowing which date I was going over by as there are 4 different EDD's in my notes!!!!
Anyway she scanned me & agreed that the baby is measuring 3 weeks out by the head measurement & is under average weight for the dates. Said that it could be the head isn't symmetrical but this is something they won't know until baby is born.
My placenta is starting to calcify which usually only happens in people who smoke (I did smoke for first 3 months as didn't know I was expecting) so they are going to monitor this as well but she doesn't think it is anything to do with the placenta & said that there's plenty of fluid around the baby & my blood pressure & protein aren't cause for concern so all in all she's not too worried.
Changed my care from MW led care to Consultant care & I return in 2 weeks for another scan when they will decide if the baby will thrive better outside of the womb but by that stage I will be 37+1 so it's not too early.
Was told again to monitor the baby's movements & if I have any queries regarding them then to phone the hospital & go up for a scan but hopefully Junior will keep on kicking me in the ribs- never thought i'd be pleased to feel it but I am!
Feel very relieved that I saw someone who took the time to go through things with me & appreciated why I was so concerned & also glad to have had a 2nd opinion (and incidentally 3rd as the consultant I saw checked with the senior consultant too) after Friday's episode. Was also told I won't be allowed to go over my due date so in the next 4-5 weeks baby will definitely be here!
This has really re-iterated to me that these people are caring for my baby & for me & I would just like to make sure that if anyone feels concerned about things they may experience when at appointments or they read in their notes to ask the MW or doctor next time they see them because you could be worrying for a reason.
Take care,
Lauren (35+1) xoxo