Induced because baby is measuring small??

Anyone have experience with this? Posting for someone else....

Being induced at 39 weeks because baby is measuring small, particularly the abdomen-- and no change from last week to this at 38 weeks. She hasn't had a lot of weight gain the entire pregnancy, and was thin before pg. Although the docs think that maybe the placenta detached and perhaps that's the cause-- although maybe it's a combo of things. Who knows.

They want to induce to ensure the baby is getting properly nourished and feel at 39 weeks, it's best to do it outside the womb so they can monitor exactly what;s going on.

Baby is still kicking and moving up a storm. But of course mom, is worried sick.

Anyone have experience?

Re: Induced because baby is measuring small??

no experience with this but good luck. I hope it all works out with you and your LO.

Re: Induced because baby is measuring small??

Not exactly the same experience but I was told I was measuring small at 39 weeks so I was sent for a growth sono where they told me DS was measuring 6lbs 10oz. I also got a non-stress test which I think is supposed to tell you if the placenta is functioning. In the end I delivered a week later, an 8lb 4oz baby, so I don't put a lot of stock in these measurements that they do.

If I were your friend I'd ask to make sure they've done any and all tests they can do to make sure before agreeing to an induction. Good luck to her!

Re: Induced because baby is measuring small??

I started to measure small at 35wks, but was on bedrest so they figured I would go early. My measurment was never bigger then 34wks. SHe was born at 36w2d 5lb2oz. They were concerned for IUGR. Once she was born she packed on the pounds very very quickly and did thrive outside. I firmly believe that in this day and age if they are worried about the baby they'll take it when they need to. I would consider induction for this...this, IMHO, is way differnt then a big baby or the convience of being home for an ocassion.

Re: Induced because baby is measuring small??

My son was born at 36 weeks for reasons that were not related to his size but that was a concern. As it turned out I had blood clotting on the placenta and if it had gotten worse it could have been disastrous. He was very small, even for a 36 week baby. He has been perfectly healthy for a very long time but it was very difficult to leave him in the NICU. A baby born at 39 weeks might not even have the issues that my son had with poor sucking mechanism & not having the instinct to feed. I don't think that any of his organs were out of proportion to any others so I do not know about the stomach size. The one thing I now advocate is to have give birth at a hospital that has a very strong NICU. I saw babies being airlifted in while their moms still were at other hospitals.

Re: Induced because baby is measuring small??

Thanks ladies-- I am obviously looking for success stories. I am hoping that worst case-- baby needs to be monitored in NICU and will gain substantially after delivery.

She is already 3cm dilated and her doc could feel the head in an internal, so there's a good chance she won;t even make it til next week.

Re: Induced because baby is measuring small??

I know someone whose baby measured in the 10th or 12th percentile because of issues with the placenta. They had her on bed rest at 33w and told her to lie on her left side the whole time for maximum blood flow to the baby.

The baby was delivered early when it was determined it was better for the baby outside the womb than inside - at 36w, I think? Mom and baby got through it really well, and she was able to bring the baby home after a couple of weeks (or less?) in the NICU. I'm sorry, it's a friend of my cousin's and I don't know all the details, but I would get updates about her periodically and know that it worked out just fine.

Re: Induced because baby is measuring small??

not exactly the same, but my friend had twins and one was not gaining for 2 weeks, so then induced and she eventually had a c/s

the baby was in nicu for 3-4 weeks, but is now a healthy 6 year old

Re: Induced because baby is measuring small??

I was but it was a combo of that and severe back issues and already dilated so they were sure it would be a successful induction. I was not measuring small but the baby hadn't gained on 2 weeks. They said my placenta had matured and wasnt carrying enough nutrients anymore. I was really only about 5 days fro
Due date.

Re: Induced because baby is measuring small??

i was measuring small (despite the fact that i had GD). his size was about 3 weeks behind. i was being induce at 39 weeks due to the GD but then was induced earlier due to low amniotic fluid. he was small (4lbs10oz) and they said it was due to preeclampsia. when you have any kind of issue lik ethat its safer for you and the baby to just deliver. that could be the reason

Re: Induced because baby is measuring small??

this makes sense because once a baby stops growing in utero - whether its the 30th week or the 40th week, it means that it has to come out cause the placenta is no longer working properly.

i delivered at 33weeks and was measuring 31-32weeks, although that's not why they delivered me early.

good luck to her!!

Re: Induced because baby is measuring small??

With my second I was measuring small the whole pregnancy and DD was measuring 40% durning the sono's. Well she was 2 days late and was 8lbs. 13oz. We were all shocked. They say the sono's can be +/- a I was measuring about 10 days behind.

Re: Induced because baby is measuring small??

This happened to me at around 37-38 weeks. I was scheduled for a c-section at 39 weeks anyway so I was put on bedrest for the remainder of the time. I was told to lay almost exclusively on my left side for as long as I could take it so baby could get maximum nutrients/circulation/whatever.

I was sent for growth sonos and NST regularly until my scheduled c/s. Everything was fine and baby measured fine at birth, no nicu necessary.

Re: Induced because baby is measuring small??

No experience with this but at 39 weeks the baby is full term and if it has not grown since last visit I would def induce. The environment in the womb may have changed and the baby is no longer getting what it needs to grow. Being a full term baby already, thereis no reason to keep that baby in there, it actually may end up doing more harm than good if she's NOT going to induce.

I was induced with first DS at 40 wks exactly becauuse of low fluid levels, he was fully cooked so keeping him in there was more dangerous for him. It was a long process (21 hours but I am glad I did it!)

Re: Induced because baby is measuring small??

My friend was induced at 39 weeks since her DD was measuring small and they wanted to monitor her growth out of the uterus.

Everything was fine with both mom and baby. Her DD is still small though! She is 4 and can still fit into 18 month clothing - although it is too short for her to actually wear

Re: Induced because baby is measuring small??

Crashing here...

At 38 weeks, my DD was measuring small, like the 10th percentile. I went for stress tests, multiple sonos and even to a specialist to make sure everything was ok.

I wasn't induced early, I was just heavily monitored for the last couple weeks. DD was born at 6lbs, 6oz when I was induced after my due date. When the doctor looked at her umbilical cord, there are 2 arteries that go through, and one was almost non-existent. The doctor says that probably was what caused the concern.

She has caught up and was almost 23lbs at her first year checkup.

Hang in there. It's scary, but they will take care of you and your baby!

Re: Induced because baby is measuring small??

I went past my due date with my DD2. I went in for an BPP and NST. On the BPP it showed that she hadn't really gained any weight from the sono I'd had at 36 weeks (so 4 weeks earlier). It also showed the flow through the cord wasn't great, and the amniotic fluid was very low. She was still moving and kicking but my doctors were very worried. I'd had a previous c-section, so they wouldn't induce me, but said they would have if I hadn't been a VBAC patient. So I wound up with a c-section and DD was 5lbs 13 oz at birth. She was perfectly healthy though. No NICU time, and came home with me.