Had u/s and it said my baby was really small and now my doc wants a section.

[Chakra]

I had a u/s to check everything since i'm having a vba2c. Well the baby measured really small. I'm 37 weeks and he is 4.5 pounds. So of course he's concerned and is totally pushing a section. I had a nst and that was good. My baby is moving a lot and I really feel that everything is fine. Plus I have small babies. My other two were born at 38 weeks and weighed 6 pounds. Anyways just wondering of anyone has any advise. I dont want a section.

[Sasha_girl]

I haven't been in your situation, but I did want to share an experience that I had with u/s weight guesses. I was told definitively that my ds would weigh the same as my daughter had weighed at birth. She had weighed 7 lbs 1 oz.

He was born--on time--weighing 8 lbs 14 oz.

*I* would be very loathe to plan a c-section based on nothing other than an u/s weight measurement, but that's me (and it's easy for me to say since I don't have an OB demanding something that I don't want). Good luck to you in whatever you decide.

[robertandenith]

could you do another u/s somewhere else? like another opinion?

[mama_ani]

I am not in your ddc but wanted to respond. A c-section based on size alone doesn't seem like a good idea.
U/S can be off by a lot! For me, I was told my first two babies were going to be "at least 9 lbs." They were 7-11 and 7-14. With my third I was told she was "maybe 5 lbs if that" and that I should be prepared that the baby would have to stay in hospital til she gained weight. She was 7-3. No one gave me a guesstimate on my son. With my 5th baby the u/s tech said she was 7-10 - 3 days later she was born 8lbs 12oz!!
I would not consent to a c-section based on size prediction only.

[Irishmommy]

My tiny baby turned out to be 6lbs 11 oz. Not huge, but way bigger than the ultrasound said.

And why on earth would they section for that?

[maryeb]

Originally Posted by Irishmommy

And why on earth would they section for that?

That is what I was thinking. Baby should just stay put until he is ready to come out. Fwiw, my midwife was really worried about the size of my babe, I ended up having an u/s. The dr. was very relaxed about it all, saying I will not be having a large babe, but everything seemed just fine. There was no growth restriction. If your OB thinks there is a growth restriction, he would have given that as a reason for a section. Go with your feelings, your intuition. Sounds like everything is fine. Good luck!

[forsythia]

Hmmm, I see what everyone is saying about size, could it be more about having 2 previous cesareans that they would "prefer" you to have another cesarean? Is your doctor supportive of your birth plan, having a VBA2C?

It's just my thought that determining size is such a guessing game and that wouldn't be the only reason they would want you to have cesarean...

[veronicalynne]

Originally Posted by robertandenith

could you do another u/s somewhere else? like another opinion?

to the above. I have heard too many time how off the ultrasound can be. I would be very, very hesitant (and suspicious) to have a c/s based just on that alone especially if you are feeling everything is fine AND the fact that you do have small babies.

I remember our ped. freaking when our dd1 was one and thinking she was too small.....until I gave him a "are you nuts?" look and told him to take a good, long look at me and my husband (we are both small people). Doctors are too fast to put everyone in the same boat and forget that genetics can play a role in how big your unborn baby will be, and how your child will be on the growth chart.

Seriously, I would refuse and get a second opinion/ultrasound. From a ob who is completely unconnected to yours (not one recommended by him kwim?).....and remind them of your other babies weights.

[GoBecGo]

Wait, he thinks your baby is small so he wants to deliver EARLY (so-called electives are usually a week or so early, right?) by surgery..?

WTF - how will that help? Take him out before he's cooked and throw risks of lung infections etc. in for fun? What on earth is his reasoning for a section?! Or does he mean bubs has IUGR and needs to come out now, today? Because that, from the other things you said, sounds unlikely.

A woman i "met" on another board was sectioned at 37 weeks as "the safest way" to birth her predicted 10lb+ whopper. He was 5lbs 4oz and spent 2 weeks in NICU. U/S technicians are not god, and cannot KNOW how big baby is. And IUGR is usually dx after several scans which show no change in measurements, not after one.

[Maagpie]

My "going to be at least 11 lbs baby" was 8 lbs. I consented to a section because of fear. Then I VBACed an 11 lb baby with no problems. "na-na-na-boo-boo" doc!

Sorry to hijack..... It doesn't sound like a good enough reason for an early delivery by section to me. I agree with previous posters. Is your doctor truly on board for a VBA2C? Or has he/she been slyly waiting for that perfect time to slip doubt into your mind? Is it wise to section a too small baby? Pick a green apple?

Ask lots of questions, listen to doc with an open mind, consider benefits vs. risks, consider any alternatives, go with your gut!

[foogoomomma]

Are they saying he's not getting enough from the placenta or something? What is the reasoning other than that they think he is small? Has all of your blood work, etc come back ok? They are usually way off on sizes. With my firstborn they told me he was going to be a huge baby and were worried etc. and he ended up coming in at just over 8 lbs, not 10 like they thought. Second baby same thing and baby was born at again just over 8 lbs. The u/s aren't always accurate, but if there is another valid reason to think there is something wrong that's different... any other info?

[fyoosh]

Your OB sounds like a nutjob to me.

They want to section at 37 weeks because the babe is "too small"? Umm... wouldn't it make sense to let the babe cook (and, uh... GROW) longer?? Durrrr.

The only thing I could think of that would be a problem would be if your placenta was deteriorating, and the babe was LOSING weight over time. That seems to happen more with postdates rather than at this point, though.

Weight estimations, as you have seen from previous posters, are horrendously inaccurate a lot of the time.

[Chakra]

He never said anything about iugr. I have always measured a little on the small size with the tape measure thingy. BUT my baby has always grown according to it. He didnt say much exept for that sometimes they are better on the outside. I didnt ask questions, because I know my baby is fine. He just said we can deliver now if I want or wait it out and do the NST. So I go back friday for that and another u/s. But I will not deliver my baby early! I'm gonna call and make an apt. for a 2nd opinion tomorrow. As far as switching docs I cant....Unless I want a csection! He is the ONLY doctor who would "let me vabc". Literally!

[forsythia]

Originally Posted by Chakra

He never said anything about iugr. I have always measured a little on the small size with the tape measure thingy. BUT my baby has always grown according to it. He didnt say much exept for that sometimes they are better on the outside. I didnt ask questions, because I know my baby is fine. He just said we can deliver now if I want or wait it out and do the NST. So I go back friday for that and another u/s. But I will not deliver my baby early! I'm gonna call and make an apt. for a 2nd opinion tomorrow. As far as switching docs I cant....Unless I want a csection! He is the ONLY doctor who would "let me vabc". Literally!

I hope that you have the birth you are wanting!

[~Megan~]

I wouldn't do a c-section based only on weight estimate. u/s are not accurate for determining weight anyway.

I was told that dd would be over 8lbs and she was 6lbs 13oz. It can go the other way too.

Are you 100% sure about your dates as well? Has your fundus been on target and growing at a steady rate?

[guestmama9920]

have the measurements re-checked, even a tad off can make a huge weight difference.

My son was about that weight on his 37 week scan, he ended up 6lbs 3 a few weeks later.

[meredyth0315]

Oh mama, that's not a reason for a c/s I'm also a VBA2C and my not so little man is weighing in at 6lbs 7ozs at almost 36 weeks. I don't put much stock into the u/s at all - it's a machine and they have flaws. My mw is okay with it, too, she said she's thought he was a big boy, but she's seen small women birth 10lb babies. My 1st who was supposed to be a 10lb baby was a whopping 8lbs 12ozs - almost 9, but not the 10 they were so sure of. And I hate to say it like this, but if the baby is a little small, I would think that helps your chances of VBAC and not hurt them.

I'm so sorry you're going through this so close to the end, doctors are so frightened of VBACs, it's just unfair. Regardless, I wish you a beautiful birth on your terms

[UnassistedMomma]

Originally Posted by fyoosh

Your OB sounds like a nutjob to me.

They want to section at 37 weeks because the babe is "too small"? Umm... wouldn't it make sense to let the babe cook (and, uh... GROW) longer?? Durrrr.

Not if the small size was due to the baby not getting nourished inside the womb for some reason. If the placenta is not doing it's job adequately, you don't want to just leave the babe in there starving.

That said, US weight estimates are notoriously off... get more than one opinion from more than one sonographer prior to making a decision for sure.

Good luck to you OP.

[fyoosh]

Originally Posted by UnassistedMomma

Not if the small size was due to the baby not getting nourished inside the womb for some reason. If the placenta is not doing it's job adequately, you don't want to just leave the babe in there starving.

That is what I said in the next paragraph

[aquablue]

Another person chiming in to say u/s to predict weight are notorious for being way off as you get further along in your pregnancy.

I too was told my DD would be close to 9 lbs at my 38 week u/s. (No, wasn't high risk but my OB was giving me a u/s at every visit and I was too ignorant/trusting at the time to realize how unnecessary that was)

Well...DD was 7 lbs 3 oz at birth.