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Very small for dates

8 replies

ButIForgetMysElf · 10/12/2008 13:18

Throughout my pregnancy, people have commented how small my bump is. Midwives have never seemed overly concerned - until today. I'm 37+1 and am only measuring 31.5, which is less than two weeks ago when I measured 32.5 at 35 weeks.

Have been booked in for growth scan tomorrow - however, I am now worried sick.

I'm not a small lady - size 16 pre-pregnancy, not fat but curvy, big boobs and bum etc. I've put on just over a stone and a half with pregnancy - I actually lost weight in the beginning.

If anybody has any experience with this situation, I'd be really grateful for some words of wisdom.

OP posts:

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OhLITTLEFISHofBethlehem · 10/12/2008 13:22

I had the opposite. I was told that dd would be at least 9lbs. However, she was actually only 6lbs 10! My bump didn't show until I was nearly 7 months. I have big boobs and am tall. My theory is that if you have big boobs, you don't start to show until your bump sticks out further than your boobs .

Fundal height measurements are incredibly inaccurate.

I know it's impossible not to worry, but you'll know tomorrow after the scan.

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weepootle · 10/12/2008 13:27

Sorry can't advise but empathise as I've just had the same thing.

My midwife measured me yesterday as 32cm and I'm 38+4. The last time she bothered to measure me was when I was 32 weeks and I measured 30cm then.

I've put about 2.5 stone this pg but was only 7.5 to start with and am very petite.

I've got my scan today at 3pm so will report back later.

Try not to worry too much though- no-one seems to have much faith in the fundal measurements as we all carry differently.

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swottybetty · 10/12/2008 13:28

hiya i was sent for growth scans at 34 wks for same thing. bump stopped growing at 32 wks and didnt get big again for another month or so. growth scan showed dd fine for measurements, slightly small for weight (tho that is known as not that most accurate measuring). like ohlittle, dd was born a healthy 6lb 10oz and has remained in stirling health.

i also posted on MN when this happened and heard a fair few tales of small bumped women who had big babies. this included people whose growth scans had shown small weighing babies.

good luck for tomo

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MmeHereWeGoAWassailLindt · 10/12/2008 13:42

I met an ex-colleague just before she went on maternity leave and expressed my surprise that she was going so early. I would have guessed her to be four or five months pregnant. She was lose to term and had a tiny bump. Her baby was born a couple of weeks later, absolutely normal size. She was upset by lots of well-meaning friends who kept asking if everything was ok.

Good luck with your scan

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brettgirl2 · 10/12/2008 14:01

My gran who was eight stone when she got pregnant proudly boasts of "not showing at all" with either my dad or uncle. She was told by her doctor it was because she hardly carried any water. They were perfectly healthy and it never occured to her that it might be anything to worry about!

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Sweetie34 · 10/12/2008 15:02

I had EXACTLY the same problem. I was a 'big' girl and lost weight in teh first few months.

I didn't begin to show until I was 5 months pregnant. All along I thought" I am too small". At about 34 weeks I was convinced my bump had stopped growing. I put my concerns to the midwife and these were brushed off with " people carry differently". As this was my first pregnancy I took their word for it. I mentioned it at every ante-natal and scan and was always told something similar - even thought my bump measurements were not changing.

My DD was born one week early weighing 3lb 12oz. The Midwife was shocked that this hadn't been picked up during my ante-natal visits.

Luckily there were no long-term effects, BUT, I was very upset with myself thAt I hadn't followed my gut instinct and insisted on further scans.

I am pregnant again and this time I will make sure that if teh circumstances repeat themselves, I will be much more vocal and insistant.

I suggest you do teh same. This is YOUR CHILD. If you think somehitn is wrong tell your Doctor you are getting stressed and insist taht everything is checked out. You may be right - I was!!!

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KT1983 · 11/12/2008 10:49

ButIForgetMysElf - Would like to know how you go on when you have had your scan.
I was measuring small at 28weeks, had a scan & showed that baby's tummy was a bit below where it should be. Im booked in for a Scan on Tuesday to see if she is growing any better - Very concerned as my bump is tiny, someone asked me if I was about 3 or 4 months the other day?

The more I think about the scan, the more worried I get.