IUGR?

[Kel]

Okay, I'm a little worried and I'm wondering if anyone out there has dealt with this before.

I had an u/s at 32 weeks to see if my low-lying placenta had moved. It has, which is good. But in the process, they did measurements and have determined that the baby might not be growing properly. The head was measuring 4 weeks behind (28 weeks), but the abdomen was measuring a week ahead (33 weeks). A couple of other measurements were behind by a couple of weeks (measuring 30 weeks). I am going for another u/s on Wednesday at a different clinic that has more sophisticated equipement. I'm hoping it was just a technical problem (ie couldn't measure the head properly), but I don't know. During the u/s the tech spent at least half the time working on finding/measuring the head. She said that it was very low so she was having a hard time getting at it.

My midwife said they are concerned about IUGR (I think it stands for IntraUterine Growth Retardation), but that seems strange to me given that the abdomen is measuring ahead. Oh, the weight of the baby was fine too (4.5 pounds, average is 4 pounds).

I'm not going crazy with worry or anything, but I am concerned that something might be wrong. I have had a difficult pregnancy, but up until now it has all been on my end, the baby has been fine. So this is a bit of a shock.

[ChristineP]

Kelly,

Unfortunately, I don’t know anything about IUGR, but just wanted to pass along some HUGS! Please keep everyone up-to-date with your next ultrasound and what you learn!

Take care of yourself and that baby!
Love,
Christine

[anon236]

IUGR info (http://familydoctor.org/handouts/313.html)

I am sure that you have already done your own google search, but I wanted to be sure that you thought of that...I do not have any personal experience with this, but I wanted to jump in a give you a big ****{HUG}}}!!

ok - my thought are that if this was a huge deal - medically life-threatening - then they would not have let you go the past 3 weeks. 32 weeks would have been an "acceptable" prematurity and they would have taken the baby then. And it doesn't sound like everyone is rushing around trying to save you and the baby - so things must just be on the borderline of IUGR. which - BTW - now stands for growth "restriction". They changed the terminology so that the first thing that pops in your head isn't mental retardation...because - (from what I read anyway) IUGR doesn't necessaarily mean that there is a problem.

I do wonder about the causes though. What I read has mostly to do with heavy material smoking/drug abuse, poor nutrition, etc, etc. none of which you do (unless you lead a secret double life!). SO - your must be either experiencing a technical glitch or a cause out of your control - so don't beat yourself up and don't panic yet!

Surely your next u/s will come back better - I will be waiting to hear from you - IMMEDIATELY! - after your appt. smile.gif

Thinking of you!

PS - do we get updated photos/video of the new u/s!?! I haven't seen mine in so long - I wonder how big they (our babies) are now!?! :D

[anon236]

AHHHH - ok - I shoulda clicked on your links first! What a cute little face!!!

Any more insight on whether it is a he or a she?

[Kel]

Thanks guys! I am feeling better, but researching on the web just makes me more scared. So I have stopped doing that for now. I will just see how things go with the u/s and then worry if I need to!

Steph - The u/s place was really slow in getting the results to my midwife, so they just got them last week and didn't look at them until today. But you're right, hopefully the u/s place wouldn't have taken so long if they thought it was urgent. We decided not to find out the sex, but I think I saw boy parts when she was showing us the baby on the screen. I've thought it is a boy all along, so we'll see! smile.gif

[shellys]

I just wanted to let you know that Im thinking about you and hoping everything is ok.

[jenn42302]

Kel,

I, too, want to dop you a line to let you know that I'm thinking of you and that I hope all is well with your little (or not-so-little!!) peanut!! Prayers to you!

jenn smile.gif

[32lbs&counting]

OH WOW!
I HAVE NO EXPERIENCE WITH THIS TYPE "PROBLEM " EITHER BUT WANTED TO SAY THAT I AM THINKING OF YOU.
I DID HAVE A FRIEND WHO WENT THROUGH THIS TYPE THING MEANING THAT THE DR. SCARED HER WHILE SHE WAS PREGNANT- THE BABY HAD A LOT OF EXTRA BONE IN THE FRONT OF HER HEAD. THE DR AND HOSPITALS SUGGESTED TERMINATION AT 18 WEEKS...THEY NEVER DID THAT. THIS GIRL IS NOW 7 AND IS CUTE AND LOVELY WITH 2 MORE SIBLINGS THAT FOLLOWED. THEY SAID SHE WOULD PROBABLY NEVER DEVELOP NORMALLY AND WOULD SUFFER BRAIN IMPAIRMENT.....SO THAT GOES TO SHOW THAT DR.S ARE NOT ALWAYS CORRECT. THE BONE IS STILL THERE AND DOESN'T HAMPER HER LIFE IN ANY WAY.
I DO AGREE WITH STEPH THOUGH- IF IT WERE LIFE THREATENING THEY WOULD HAVE YOU IN THE OR ROOM LIKE ....NOW TO TAKE YOUR BABY! YOU CERTAINLY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO HOME THAT DAY.
I BELIEVE THAT THE TECHNICIAN OR THE EQUP WAS A BIT OFF AND HOPEFULLY THE NEXT ONE WILL REVEAL THIS TO YOU!
IF THIS WAS AS BAD AS YOU FEEL THEN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PICKED UP AT YOUR APROX 18 WEEK ULTRASOUND..RIGHT?

BIH HUGS FOR YOU!!!

LISA

[Kel]

Thanks everyone for your encouragement! We had our u/s today and got the results back. Details below.

**Cross post from the preggie thread**

Everything is perfect!! The baby is measuring 35weeks, 1 day. I'm 35 weeks 3 days. The head is 34.1 weeks, so not very far behind at all! I'm so happy! And we have quite the little porker in there - 6pounds 9ounces (5.5 is average at 35 weeks)! The weight puts the baby at 37 weeks. We also scored 8 out of 8 on the non-stress test (so the baby was moving well, breathing well, responding well, etc.). I can't even express how relieved I am! No matter how much I told myself the first u/s was wrong, it was hard to totally believe it. Now I just can't wait to meet this little one! :D

[ChristineP]

Kel~

I’m so happy for you! Breathing a sigh of relief now…..

Take care and I look forward to sending you Congratulation Wishes very soon!

Christine

[anon236]

I am so glad that things went well! AND that you were able to get these results back so quickly! super big happy ****{HUGS}}} to your and your dh right now! smile.gif smile.gif smile.gif

6 pounds 9 ounces! WOW! THAT is amazing! he/she sure will be big! already is!! I was only 6, 6 when I was born! (at term!)

I had my first "internal" and group b test today (ouch!) and it occurred to me on the way home that my baby was touched for the very first time EVER today...the doctor felt what was probably a hand...maybe a foot...it was a pretty emotional feeling for me - but dh just laughed at my preggie hormones!

I might get another u/s in 2 weeks to be sure she is head down...it will be good to know her weight - and to see her again!

I am so happy that things are ok for you and your baby!

[32lbs&counting]

OH WOW ! AWESOME FOR YOU. I FIGURED THE MEASUREMENTS WERE WRONG! TALK ABOUT STRESSING A WOMAN OUT.

STEPH ISN'T THAT STREP B A NOT SO NICE "FEEL"
I HATED THAT.

MY BABY IS FINALLY HEAD DOWN AGAIN- IF IT WILL STOP FLIPPING BACK AND FORTH IT WOULD BE NICE.

13 DAYS AND COUNTING.. I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE IT WILL BE HERE SO SOON.

CHUBBY GUY YOU HAVE IN THERE. I WAS A SMALL BABY AT 4.13 AND MY BROTHER AT 4.11. TO A NON SMOKING/DRINKING MOTHER. BABIES WERE JUST SMALLER 30 YEARS AGO. MY BOYS WERE 7.14 AND THEN 8.14. I AM PRAYING THIS ONE IS NOT 9.14! HEHEHE
THE DR FIGURES ABOUT 6.5 POUNDS RIGHT NOW...
WE WILL SEE THOUGH...

[Red Sox Fan]

Hi Kelly,

I'm just seeing this thread, and I'm so glad to hear that everything's OK. I hope your last few weeks go by smoothly for you, and I can't wait until your new little one arrives. smile.gif

Best wishes,