Experience with IUGR?

joianett

I went to my bi-weekly check-up today (I am 33-34 weeks along) and doctor is concerned. My stomach is measuring 2 weeks behind. So she elected to do an U/S and found that he is also measuring behind! She told me no more working out (which is fine by me) and I go back on July 2nd for another growth scan/ultrasound. With that said, I did notice, in the ultrasound that his head is measuring spot on but his abdomen and extremities are measuring behind!! Oh, and she said, "He is only 4 pounds".
Also, when I was taking my paperwork to schedule my next appointment, I noticed she marked me as IUGR.

BTW - I have measured on up to now. The only issue I've had is weight gain. I have "only" gained 8 LBS total so far but it has not been an area of concern. I did gain 1 LB between my last bi-weekly and this one.

Oh, and his head is measuring BIG/NORMAL but his belly and femur 2 weeks behind

miranda_mom

I did not have it but I've known some who did. It can be caused by a number of things, including high blood pressure.
I will caution you about the ultrasounds - I had to get them for the opposite issue - my baby was too big, supposedly. I have heard over and over again from women who had the ultrasounds and they were not accurate. I know one woman who was told she had to deliver right away because the baby was nine lbs. according to the ultrasound. She was induced and he was born that day - at six lbs.! My son was supposed to be enormous and was 7 lbs. 6 oz. I did have him two weeks early but he came on his own, in his own time and he was a nice size. He was also supposed to have this gigantic abdomen and he DID NOT. In fact, now he is five months and at this last appt. I was told he is in the 50th percentile for height and 25th (!!!) for weight. So if anything, we are now talking about him being on the small side! Whenever people try to guess his age, they always guess too low. And he does not have any fat rolls or anything. I guess what I'm saying is that I don't think those ultrasounds are very accurate and mostly they just get you all worked up thinking there's something wrong with your baby. At least that's what happened to me.
BTW, babies gain about a half a lb. a week (at least that's what I was told) at the end so if you're 34 weeks, that's about three lbs. to gain putting him at 7 lbs. at 40 weeks which is a nice size.

joianett

Thank you for responding.

I don't have high blood pressure so that is not it but I too have heard those u/s measurements are inaccurate. I think I am more upset that his head doesn't match his body and that my stomach is small. I cannot help but feel it's because I have monitored every calorie I've put into my body for half my pregnancy. I jsut feel so bad and like a failure. I wasn't trying to harm baby, not at all.

mrsomeara

Thank you for responding.

I don't have high blood pressure so that is not it but I too have heard those u/s measurements are inaccurate. I think I am more upset that his head doesn't match his body and that my stomach is small. I cannot help but feel it's because I have monitored every calorie I've put into my body for half my pregnancy. I jsut feel so bad and like a failure. I wasn't trying to harm baby, not at all.

I have no experience with IGUR but I just wanted to tell you that you aren't a failure. Watching yourself gain weight is hard. I just want you to know I can sorta relate. I hope these next several weeks your little one can catch up. Sending healthy vibes your way.

DawnieB1977

I've also no experience of iugr, but 4lbs at 33/34 weeks sounds fine as babes put on about half a pound a week. 7lbs is a perfectly normal weight. My first was 7lbs13 at 10 days overdue.

Fundal height measurements aren't entirely accurate, and neither are scan measurements.

I had a scan at 36+5 with my third as my midwife thought she was breech (luckily she wasn't) and her head was on the 99th centie! She was born 9lbs1 at 11 days late with a 37cm head. I didn't even need any stitches! Now she's 6 weeks old and her head is 50th centile and her height and weight are 91st centile. So don't worry about head measurements.

Honestly, I'm glad I'm not American, because it seems like being pregnant there makes you constantly paranoid about your weight, baby's size etc.

miranda_mom

Honestly, I'm glad I'm not American, because it seems like being pregnant there makes you constantly paranoid about your weight, baby's size etc.

True! This seems like a relatively new thing too - I did not have that experience with my daughter, who is now 7. But with my son, ugh, it was constant stress and then they say "try to relax because stress isn't good for the baby."

dandelyon

4 lbs at 34 weeks means, what a 6 lb baby at 40 weeks?

Are you following up with a specialist?

miranda_mom

4 lbs at 34 weeks means, what a 6 lb baby at 40 weeks?

Are you following up with a specialist?

Probably closer to seven. They told me a half a pound a week.

joianett

Yes, I go in on Friday for an ultrasound with the technician.

joianett

Thank you for the sweet reply @DawnieB1977 and I agree, sometimes I feel like ignorance is bliss.

dandelyon

I thought IUGR was growth restriction, 6-7lbs doesn't sound terribly low. Hopefully they are just being cautious and you have a great visit!

joianett

YES, that is why I am going on Friday so they can get more "Accurate" measurements. Weeks wise, he is measuring 2-3 weeks behind!!!

dandelyon

YES, that is why I am going on Friday so they can get more "Accurate" measurements. Weeks wise, he is measuring 2-3 weeks behind!!!

The "not an exact science" stuff with ultrasounds has given me numerous scares, so I only saw a maternal fetal specialist with my last pregnancy and skipped the regular ultrasound. At first my baby measured 5lbs, and then she said, oh, he changed position, finally! And she re-measured and found he was closer to 6lbs.

I think they are giving you good advice about your diet and exercise, but I hope they didn't worry you too much

papagal212

I had same problems with my daughter. I was monitored cause my belly measurements were 2-3weeks behind. Did a TON of ultrasounds and NSTs my final 2 months (bi-weekly u/s and 2x a week NSTs) I did not work out or even monitor my eating with her, I gained close to 50lbs and was still measuring behind. ANYWAYS fastforward, I was recommended by the u/s DR to get induced by 39wks, my dr missed that memo apparently and was didn't get induced until 39wk6days LOL. But ya at my last ultrasound they measured her 6#10oz (a weeks beforehand) and she was born 6#13.8oz SO COMPLETELY NORMAL AND HEALTHY. I had same issues with belly measurements being behind at the end of my pregnancy with my son, they did an ultrasound and he measured 6lbs14oz at my 39wk ultrasound which was just perfect. He was born 7#6oz. This time around, I got measured and I'm measuring 1 week ahead LOL. I aint worried, I know thing will be just fine at the end

Cheeky_and_Geeky

I don't have experience with that, but I delivered my daughter at 35 weeks & she was only 5lbs 4oz (17 inches long) so 4lbs sounds about right. And I was in the hospital for that whole last month as they were shoving food down my throat, otherwise she probably would've been smaller. I wouldn't worry too much about that, every baby is different. My daughter was born with an extra artery & the ultrasound never picked it up so I don't have complete faith in them.