We have been told by midwife our unborn baby of 35 weeks is 2 weeks smaller than it should be.?

Question

We have a size scan booked for next week...but anyone know reasons why the baby may be small?

Answer 1

She told you this based on the measurements of your uterus? Measuring within 2 weeks of your due date (either way) is normal and nothing to be concerned over. The scan will better determine the size of the baby, because the uterine measurements are not very specific indicators of the actual size of the baby. An ultrasound isn't perfect either and can be off by a half pound or more, but is still more accurate than the uterine measurement.

Good luck, baby is probably just fine.

Answer 2

There are many reasons why your baby may be small, for instance, the date of your last period is incorrect, hence you are not at 35 weeks yet, the scan should give you a better idea of your due date.
Whatever you do, don't worry as you will only cause your self unnecessary stress and that's not good for you or the baby. Both my babies were on the small side, and they have grown into 2 fit and healthy adults, my daughter gave birth to a small baby girl 5lb 13 1/2ozs May 20th 07, and my daughter is pregnant again due May 10th 08. My son and his wife are expecting their 1st baby on February 15th 08, their baby is also on the small side. As a mother of small sized babies I can assure you they soon catch up with the "normal" sized babies. You take care and try not to worry, when you have your next scan talk to your doctor about your concerns. Take care and all the best with the birth.

Answer 3

Try not to worry, with my first child I was told at my 39 week check that mu bump had not grown since my 32 week check.
I of coursed panicked thinking there was something seriously wrong, especially because the midwife asked me repeatedly if I felt him moving.
I was booked for a growth scan, they found that he was on the small side but appeared healthy and happy and just to keep a kick chart and call if anything seemed a miss, a week later I had a baby boy weighing 5lb 14oz- small but healthy and able to go home the same day no problem.
My second baby was born early by induction at 37 weeks weighing only 5lb 2oz! some women just have small babies, healthy but just small.
They also told me throughout both pregnancies that I had little or no water around my baby!! both were born following a huge gush of fluid! so they get things wrong very very frequently, scans and measurements can only ever be a guide, chances are your baby is fine.

Congrats hope mum is well and good luck for the big day.

Answer 4

Don't worry about it. There can be discrepancies in the date of conception, and some families just are on the small side. Very occasionally there is something the matter (google for "small for dates baby") but from what I could find out 16 yrs ago its uncommon, and also shows as more dramatic than a couple of weeks adrift.

And some babies are just wrigglebums and won't lie still to be measured!

In the unlikely event that there actually is something adrift, the hospital will sort everything out with you, but I really wouldn't stress about it any more than you can help.

Our GP did this with my 2nd one - despite I could actually tell him which nobble was an elbow, a knee, bum, head, and the little dear was squirming for all she was worth in there. Luckily we got a scan the next day. Guess what? perfectly normal. born at 42 weeks(!) gestation, 53cm and 6lb 11 1/2 oz.

Same GP panicked at the same point about sprog1 too - thought he was breach. Of course he wasn't - arrived on his due date 52cm, 6lb 10oz.

Answer 5

No but honestly the chances are the baby is still healthy just is a small baby wether something happened or it was just the way it was going to in the first. I had my son at 26 weeks and he weighed a meir 758grams or 1pd 6 oz (he is ok and is 9 months old now) and now that is small so i would rather have a slightly small child at 35 then what i had. But best of luck and hope everything works out.

Answer 6

I showed 7 weeks behind with each of my kids, with my 3rd(13 weeks ago) they where really concerned as i was so small and thought she wasnt going to be 4 pounds, she arrived 3 days late, 6 pounds 6 onz, she was short at 27cms and had a small head at 32, but perfectly healthy, my other 2 where only between 5 and 6 pounds aswell. I think some people just have small babies, but 2 weeks behind isnt much at all, so i wouldnt worry

Answer 7

dont panic, there could be several reasons, maybe the dates are wrong, maybe the baby is lying in a funny position, maybe its just a petite baby, there are many innocent reasons for a baby measuring smaller than dates. Wait until your scan and see what this tells you, there is a huge difference in baby sizes and what is considered normal, a full term baby can weigh anything between 5 lb and 12 lbs so there are bound to be difference in measurements

Answer 8

I was told my son would be huge - every doctor I saw said the same. He was the scrawniest thing you ever did see. Hes now over 6' tall. So dont worry unduly. your dates can be out by a week or more unless you know for sure the exact date you got pregnant, so being 2 weeks smaller isnt that important. Plus they grow at different rates in the last few weeks, so theres time to catch up.

Answer 9

The Midwife is probably wrong, they made so many mistakes with my size scans, try not to worry,all my children were small especially my last one and I personally think it was because of stress.
Congratulations by the way!!

Answer 10

Was the midwife basing this from your fundal height or measurement of your uterus? Our Dr. said I was too small b/c my uterine measurements were behind. We had an ultrasound done and the baby is just fine! Sometimes you can have problems though like too little amniotic fluid. Good luck to you!