iugr diagnosis-need encouragement

[Solose]

I was just diagnosed with having an iugr baby and am feeling really worried and confused. I went in for my an appt. at 35.5 weeks and my doctor said I was measuring more than 3 weeks behind. He did a quick US in his office and everything looked good. The only measurement he took was of the head and he said that was measuring at 35 weeks. i guess he has sort of a rudimentary US machine in his office because he didn't take any other measurements and scheduled for US at the hospital, just to be sure everything was OK.

All tests of the baby's well-being looked good but she is measuring quite small. Her estimated weihgt is 4 lbs 10 ounces at 35wks 5 days.The weird thing is that her abdomen measurements look right on target but the head and the femur measurement are small ( the US they did at the hospital showed the head to be small which contradicts with the one my doctor did). I did a lot of research online and everything I came cross said that there are 2 types of iugr-symmetrical and assymetrical. If it is symmetrical than it is early onset which I did not have, and if it is assymetical than it is the abdomen that always measures behind the head and femur. In my case it is the opposite. On the one hand I am relieved that her abdomen is on target since that is supposed to be the most indicative measurement. On the other hand i am freaked out for why her femur measurement is so small (31 weeks.) I am afraid it means she has a genetic problem. Can anyone shed some light on this? Anyone have experience with iugr?

[ACsMom]

I don't have experience with iugr, but wanted to post support - I do know what it's like to get scary news from an ultrasound. Did they say anything to you about what the cause of this could be? Also, is it possible the u/s's are not giving an accurate picture (seeing as how late in the pregnancy this is) and in reality everything could be just fine?

Also, there may be things you could do, diet-wise, in these last few weeks to help the baby grow - I'm thinking particularly of the high-protein, high-vegetable Brewer diet, which is supposed to be protective against iugr. Did the ultrasounds show any problems with the cord? I read that iugr can sometimes be caused when the baby has a knot in her cord, or if it's wrapped around the neck.

It does sound encouraging that tests of her well-being looked great and her abdominal measurement seems on-target! I know how hard it is to have to wait and wonder if there's something wrong. I would be confused, too, given that your two ultrasound results contradicted each other.

Sending healthy vibes and prayers to you and baby!!

[ACsMom]

Oh, I forgot something: two midwife appointments ago, she measured me and I was behind....but the baby was lying almost sideways, and therefore my belly was flatter up the middle and I measured almost three weeks behind. The next week the baby had straightened out and I measured on target. Just a possibility....

[Solose]

Thank you for your support, it means a lot, as I am really bummed about this. I have been placed on bedrest and my doc told me to stuff my face with with food lol. So now I am trying a high fat and high protein diet. i think perhaps I really wasn't getting enough food and was doing too much (I have a toddler to take care of) because as soon as i started eating lots of fat my breasts got really engorged and I am now leaking colostrum which i take as good sign that my body is getting enough nutrients.

The good thing is that my doctor is willing to wait it out and not scheduling an induction right away like the hospital wanted to do. I am hoping that my baby is just small and needs lots of time to cook (ds was 6.8 lbs at birth and he came five days after my edd)

[Bokonon]

It's important to keep in mind that late-term ultrasounds are typically VERY inaccurate. And OBs don't usually do ultrasounds, so I would be less likely to trust an OB's judgement on estimated size than an experienced u/s tech (which I would still take with a huge grain of salt) or a perinatologist/MFM.

And given that your son was only 6.8 lbs. at 40w5d, I wouldn't expect that this baby would be huge. Babies tend to gain about 1/2 lb./week toward the end, and since you have about 4 more weeks to go, that's 2 more pounds, putting this baby at exactly what your son was, if the ultrasound is accurate.

If there isn't concern about blood flow and placental function, then please try not to worry yourself too much. You may just grow small babies! Mine were both SGA (small for gestational age) and preemies due to preeclampsia. My 3lb6.5oz 32-weeker was 7 pounds by his due date, as was my 4lb8oz 34-weeker (though both dropped significantly in weight after birth because I had been pumped with fluids beforehand). My 34-weeker is about 20 pounds at 7.5 months.

I was 4lbs4oz at 37.5 weeks, and my brother was 5lbs4oz at 38.5 weeks. My mom didn't have any health issues while pregnant, didn't drink, has never smoked, always ate healthy - she just had really small babies, and went into labor on her own.

I hope some of this helps!

[DeChRi]

I do not have experience with IUGR but did want to post my U/S experience. I was measuring behind and had a sono at 36 weeks with my last baby at was told she was only 5lb and would be a tiny baby. Another sono to check at 39 weeks showed she was 5.5lb (different tech). She came right at 40 weeks and was 8lb 9oz.

My baby before that I measured behind for a long time, then close to normal. I had some odd pain at 37 weeks and they did a sono. Said she was going to "be lucky to be much over 6lb at birth". She came 10 days later at 8lb 2oz.

My personal experience is that the sono measurments are GROSSLY inaccurate. I have yet to have one even close to accurate.

I know it is hard not to worry, but definately dig for as much info as you can, eat eat eat eat eat and dont induce unless that can make you feel REALLY sure there is an issue worth inducing and not just....sono says they are small.

Not sure if that helps but thoughts your way and hope your LO is rolly polly and healthy when she arrives.

[ACsMom]

Glad your doc is supportive of you - that's a big help. I think since you're eating more everything's going to be fine. Leaking colostrum is a really positive sign! Good luck with the bedrest, lol. I would have a hard time with that, too, taking care of my 3 y/o!!

[Danielle13]

they said I had IUGR with my dd too. because she measured 2 weeks small the whole time AND I measured 4+ weeks behind the whole time. she was fine and born at almost 42 weeks at 7lbs8oz

[Solose]

Were any of you who had small babies or iugr diagnosis put on bedrest or told to eat more? I am having a terrible time with the bedrest and am so dissapointed i don't get to play with my ds in the few weeks I have left with just him alone. It's only been two days and I am going crazy! Also, I've been trying to eat a lot and eat lots of fat and it is really making me feel sick