Small for gestational age

B

bbvv

Registered User
Just had my scan and fetus is measuring at 30 wks as opposed to 32 wks (the head normal at gestational age but the body slightly smaller). Although the doctor said that I am within a normal range at the moment, it is quite worrying.

Has anyone experienced this and the pregnancy went smoothly without complications.
 
Don't worry!

I wouldn't worry at all if your gyne is not worried! I think it's all approximate, depending on the angle and position of your baby when he was being measured. I remembered there were times when my baby's head was said to be too big, with legs too short, and body too small...but there were months when he caught up, or even swung to the other end of the scale. Happy to say that he is now a healthy, normal toddler.
 
Thanks for the reassurance, Hermoine. Was reading stuff on intrauterine growth restriction which worried me as there is nothing that can be done.

I guess I had better not get stressed out on this otherwise it will be bad for my baby.
 
Hi bbvv,

Our son was IUGR, which was picked up at 31 wks when he measured between 27 and 28 weeks for all of head, abdomen and length, so I know a bit of this firsthand.

Did your OB actually use the words "small for dates"? Sounds like he/she didn't, as you've indicated they said baby was within the normal range. Did they check cord Dopplers? Has your OB asked you to come back for another scan in a week or two?

If it was just a quick scan in the OB's rooms, then often they are reasonably inaccurate (plus or minus a week at least). If you are very concerned (and hey, what pregnant mother isn't?), maybe ring your OB and ask if you should book in for a full specialist growth and development scan with someone like Macor Wan or Y.H. Lam at Hong Kong Prenatal Diagnostics. They are extremely thorough.

Try not to worry about it too deeply at this stage, but good on you for asking the hard questions!

Good luck with the remainder of your pregnancy.
 
Thanks for the advice, Beckvaleman - I called my OB and he said that I do not need to worry at this stage as babies comes in all size and shapes. He will check when I have my next appointment.
 
There is often a genetic explanation. Are either you or the baby's father below average height, or do you have family members who are? My husband is the same height as me, which puts him fairly low on the centile charts, and both my babies have been below average sized. They both have legs that are short like their father and grandfather. It is their genetic potential.

My friend who had twins, one girl and one boy, said that when they were in utero, the bigger one would always be different from the last scan, i.e. some months the boy would be bigger and some months the girl would be bigger. So babies obviously do not always grow at linear rates according to the charts, but have their own growth spurts and plateaus.

The upside is that if the baby is still smallish at term, a natural vaginal birth should be easier!
 
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