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I hope this is the place to ask, IUGR, what will they do? (my US is Tomorrow 1/15)

post #1 of 37
1/4/07 at 2:55pm
Thread Starter 
I've been lurking here a lot because its very possible I will have a NICU baby this time. I am just trying to prepare myself if there is such a thing. Here is some background:

My baby has not had an official diagnosis of IUGR, however my last two ultrasounds have shown slown growth. She is currently measuring 17-18 days behind my LMP. I am pretty sure of my dates. I know when I couldnt have gotten pregnant, if that makes sense. I also have a low lying anterior placenta ( it is 2-3 from the OS) and a bicornuate uterus with a slight septum. This is my fourth pregnancy to make it out of the 1st trimester and will be my fourth csection.

Anyway, I have been having a lot of very low, what I am assuming Braxton Hicks contractions. The other night it lasted about 6 hours, about 8-10 minutes apart. I have a high tolerance to pain so its hard for me to gauge how bad they were. But I was very uncomfortable and was fidgity with each one.

My next ultrasound is the 15th of this month. I was wondering, if this US shows continued slow growth what steps will need to be taken. I have read on here that people had bi weekly NSTs and biophysical profiles. Could someone tell me why? (stupid question I know) Is there anything I can do to make the situation better?

I appreciate Wendy posting the links about IUGR in another thread.

Thanks for any information or personal stories,
Kim
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post #2 of 37
1/4/07 at 4:33pm
How far along are you? I was measuring about 21 days behind at 29 weeks and was sent to a high-risk o.b. He did an ultrasound (looked good to me) and said that my ds had restricted bloodflow. I was immediately admitted to the hospital for monitoring and daily ultrasounds. When they saw signs of blood flow reversal in the umbilical cord a c-section was scheduled as quickly as possible. Ds was born at 29 weeks, 6 days and was 2 lbs.

I would guess that what the doc decides to do in your case will depend on what is causing the IUGR, if they can tell, and whether or not your dc seems to be getting further behind or maintaining growth. It's all about whether your baby will do better on the inside or the outside.
post #3 of 37
1/4/07 at 5:33pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rachel J. View Post
How far along are you? I was measuring about 21 days behind at 29 weeks and was sent to a high-risk o.b. He did an ultrasound (looked good to me) and said that my ds had restricted bloodflow. I was immediately admitted to the hospital for monitoring and daily ultrasounds. When they saw signs of blood flow reversal in the umbilical cord a c-section was scheduled as quickly as possible. Ds was born at 29 weeks, 6 days and was 2 lbs.

I would guess that what the doc decides to do in your case will depend on what is causing the IUGR, if they can tell, and whether or not your dc seems to be getting further behind or maintaining growth. It's all about whether your baby will do better on the inside or the outside.
I am now 25 weeks.
Thanks for sharing!
post #4 of 37
1/4/07 at 6:23pm
You could also try pm'ing IntoRainbowz. She had IUGR and knows a lot about the topic.
post #5 of 37
1/4/07 at 6:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by OnTheFence View Post
Anyway, I have been having a lot of very low, what I am assuming Braxton Hicks contractions. The other night it lasted about 6 hours, about 8-10 minutes apart. I have a high tolerance to pain so its hard for me to gauge how bad they were. But I was very uncomfortable and was fidgity with each one.
Ugh, I also have a high tolerance for pain and mine were exactly as you described. Drinks lots and lots of water as dh just said over his shoulder and then he added please listen to your body.

FYI- mine was just under 25 weeks when she was born.
post #6 of 37
1/4/07 at 7:10pm
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post #7 of 37
1/4/07 at 8:29pm
If you scroll down there is another thread from another mama facing this which the PP has listed all her links.
post #8 of 37
1/4/07 at 8:36pm
I posted them in the definition sticky too.
post #9 of 37
1/4/07 at 8:38pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Amys1st View Post
Ugh, I also have a high tolerance for pain and mine were exactly as you described. Drinks lots and lots of water as dh just said over his shoulder and then he added please listen to your body.

FYI- mine was just under 25 weeks when she was born.
Thanks for the information. I have been trying to drink more water (without feeling like I am floating!). My cervix is also deformed, and it has never dilated. (I couldnt even get an IUD) So I wonder if someone can have preterm labor and not dilate? How retarded does that sound.
post #10 of 37
1/4/07 at 8:39pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by intorainbowz View Post
I'm at work, all my IUGR stuff is at home. I'll post when I get home.

What is the estimated weight for your baby?
At my last ultrasound they told me she weighed about 15 ounces.
post #11 of 37
1/4/07 at 11:36pm
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post #12 of 37
1/5/07 at 12:07pm
Thread Starter 
From what I have read I think I would be considered symetrical. The baby is proportinate in her size. There is only a 2 days difference in abdomen and head, but femur and head are the same.
One of the things that has frustrated me, and I trust my doctor and she believes me, is that the nurses and the sonographer do not seem to get that *I KNOW* my baby is supposed to be bigger, they just think I have my dates off. But this inst my first rodeo. I have practiced FA for nearly 15 years, taught it, and write down when I have sex. There is no way I got pregnant the week they say I did. No possible way.

I am reading over all the info. I am sure I will be back with more questions.
post #13 of 37
1/5/07 at 12:15pm
Thread Starter 
I haven't had the weekly checks for blood flow because they are waiting until my next US to determine if this is the problem. I am a fat chick but I am not nearly as big as I was in my last pregnancy at this stage -- and my last baby was my smallest. Some days I don't even look pregnant at all. I do have good fetal movement, almost entirely in the left horn. And she does have hiccups, several times a day for long periods. From the last US blood flow from the cord looked good.. From what they can see the cord looks normal. As I mentioned before I do have a low lying anterior placenta that is 2-3cm from the OS.
post #14 of 37
1/5/07 at 12:30pm
Thread Starter 
Thank you Wendy for all the info. I really do appreciate it. Because I feel like something isnt right, and I feel I need to trust that. This pregnancy is just different.
I have lost 13.5lbs as of my last appointment. Part of the time I had bad MS and then I had the flu. Like you I am trying to make everything count. I can't take prenatals, or any vitamins it seems while pregnant. They make me vomit.

My first US was about 9.5 weeks but they said I was 7 weeks and 2 days. This could not be possible. There is no way I got pregnant the day they said I conceived or anywhere near that week. Less than two weeks later a friend of mine was able to pick up heart tones on her doppler and about a week after that I was feeling definite movement. So when I went to my next OB appt. I was very clear that I though the initial US was wrong because I was feeling movement. That US showed a measurement that was on target with my LMP. It was the next one that fell behind (9 days), and then the next one that said I was even less than the very first one I had!(showing a 17-18 day difference)

I also have had pre-e in a past pregnancy, my "boy" pregnancy. My last pregnancy, I showed no signs of pre-e until the day before I had my 3rd csection (36 weeks). At my last appointment my BP was higher than what it had been all the previous appointments, it was 144/80. The previous one was 117/62.
post #15 of 37
1/5/07 at 12:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by OnTheFence View Post
I also have had pre-e in a past pregnancy, my "boy" pregnancy. My last pregnancy, I showed no signs of pre-e until the day before I had my 3rd csection (36 weeks). At my last appointment my BP was higher than what it had been all the previous appointments, it was 144/80. The previous one was 117/62.
As in, this pregnancy you're showing signs of pre-e?

Don't discount them. I know it seems early but I had a 24 weeker due to pre-e. Because of the pre-e she was also IUGR, although not nearly to the extent that Wendy is talking about.

If you have any questions about early onset pre-e I can answer those
post #16 of 37
1/5/07 at 2:02pm
I had pre-e symptoms with my son starting at 20 weeks. I didn't have symptoms with Adara until 24weeks. I thought I was SET

Aw well, it is important to know that you can have early onset symptoms of pre-e. You can also just be stressed about the question of your dates, small size of baby, etc.

I don't blame you for the stress, but stress isn't going to help easily said isn't it? Anyway, try to relax or meditate, go get a pregnancy massage. It can only help by relazing you, your muscles, increasing blood flow, etc.

Just a suggestion. It won't FIX anything, but if you can relax a little bit, that might help a smidge.

OMG, I can't believe I just told someone to relax... : I truly disliked those people when I was TTC and then when my pregnancy started going south, as if "relaxing" would really FIX anything. Forget I said anything, except go get a massage...that is always nice. I've had part of one massage postpartum (my one and only massage ever), and missy Adara got jealous and decided I'd had enough relaxation for one day!!
post #17 of 37
1/5/07 at 3:04pm
Ditto everything you just said. I had the same experience. #xcept by some, not so small miracle but son SHOT up in growth his last 2 weeks. then his birth was nothing short of a miracle eithetr...r
post #18 of 37
1/5/07 at 3:06pm
Onthefence, isn't it SO SO annoying whern you practice nfp/fam and they just don't GET that we know our bodies. I went in before I had a positive blood test and told my doc I conceived this day and I ovulated this day. Sure enough ultrasound was off by only 1 day. She has kept my chart and apparently has told many a client about it. She said that it was really cool. Too bad not all health professionals feel that way!
post #19 of 37
1/6/07 at 6:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by munkeesmama View Post
Onthefence, isn't it SO SO annoying whern you practice nfp/fam and they just don't GET that we know our bodies. I went in before I had a positive blood test and told my doc I conceived this day and I ovulated this day. Sure enough ultrasound was off by only 1 day. She has kept my chart and apparently has told many a client about it. She said that it was really cool. Too bad not all health professionals feel that way!
My ultrasound was off by two days from my charts, and my doctor was pretty pleased and he too tells people about it and recommends they look into it.
post #20 of 37
1/7/07 at 11:41am
Thread Starter 
I have been reading this thread.

I am having a hard time relaxing. In fact I am a nervous wreck. I try not to be, but I can't help it.
I've been reading about anterior placentas. Sometimes I hate the internet. Anyway, I was reading that you shouldnt do head and knees positions because it can constrict blood flow, and I also read you should not sleep on your stomach. I am still a stomach sleeper. I've been this way my whole pregnancy. So now I feel like I really suck.
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