[Super~Single~Mama]

I went to the midwife today, and she measured my belly and it hasn't changed in the last 2 weeks! I'm 35 weeks 1 day, and my belly was 32cm, same as it was at 33 weeks 1 day.

So, I'm going for another sonogram next wednesday to make sure the baby is growing ok. How will the sonogram tech know if the baby is growing properly? I haven't had a sonogram since August!

Also, what happens if it is IUGR?? I'm in the middle of final exams right now and they last until December 19th, so I really don't want the baby to come earlier than the 19th, although I would be really happy if baby waited until after x-mas - I'm due Jan 6th, so my due date would be perfect! And, I'm terrified of having a c/s, and I know that if I'm induced too early my chances of a c/s go up by a lot - and I really don't want to be recovering from surgery with a baby in the NICU!!

Any advice? How can I get baby to start growing in the next week???

 

[mzminty]

They thought I had IUGR with my dd, but she was just small at term, 6 lbs, 6 oz. I'd had N/V my entire pregnancy and felt so guilty...I had a biophysical profile (BPP) every week up until her birth to track gross and fine motor movements, breathing movements and amniotic fluid. If I didn't score well on the BPP, I went for a non-stress test. I don't think they induce unless these observations show cause for concern. Sounds like you're under stress with school and, if possible, should try to rest, increase your protein intake (and calories) and take deep breaths! Good luck, and keep in mind that it's too soon to assume the worst. (((hugs)))

 

[mclisa]

I wouldn't stress too much about it until next week. Sometimes if baby is in a different position then you can measure a little off.

The tech will do measurements of the baby's head, abdomen, and femur. Those are put into a computer equation that calculates the baby's estimated weight. They "know" on average how much your little one should measure and weigh at this point and see how close you are to that average.

 

[Super~Single~Mama]

Thanks! I'm trying to remind myself that its too soon to worry. The midwife I saw at my last appointment had to measure twice, and then today the midwife had to measure twice (her 1st measurement was 1cm below what I was measuring at the last appointment! Only b/c she couldn't find my pubic bone b/c baby's head was down there too).

Thanks again for making me feel better!

 

[quietserena]

Those external measurements can be super subjective.

I know it's stressful to think about all this but please try to relax and eat well and drink enough water.

 

[EBeth0000]

how stressful for you! I hope everything turns out ok. I don't have any medical advice, but I do have school advice--I'm also in school, my last semester of grad school. our "stop day" is Dec. 11 and finals are over Dec. 16, but my EDD is Dec 21. . .

Talk to your profs now or email and see if you can arrange finishing up early. I know it's hard to do with schoolwork piling up but even just saying, "hey, if I turn in my final paper/project this week, do I have to attend classes until the end of the term? Because I'm concerned that I may have some health complications that require me to miss the last week of classes" or something like that. If you have to take exams see if you can schedule it with them early, take a take-home exam, or otherwise check university policy about what happens if you miss, just in case, sometimes there are deadlines and applications and such if you end up taking incompletes this semester.

Then your semester is out of the way and regardless of what happens with your pregnancy, you will have the stress about school part out of the way. Doing this method got me out of the last 2 weeks of school when I got married and went on my honeymoon. The semester I had DS I took 3 incompletes--I would NOT recommend taking that course! Get lower grades and finish rather than taking an incomplete if you will pass, because it is SO hard to go back and finish that work, especially with a newborn to care for (and have your brain engrossed with) and new classes to study for on top of the makeup work--it was a nightmare!

I am turning in a paper today so I can skip the rest of the semester and not worry about going to that class all the way until the 16th. Good luck!

 

[Super~Single~Mama]

I can't imagine being due so soon after exams end!! That would be really stressful! Unfortunately, I can't try to finish my classes early - I'm in law school, so based on the school policy I have to have a doctors note saying that I can't complete my exams, and I can't choose to take incompletes without good reason and doctors notes as well. I also have to go through the administration b/c of the blind grading policy. I'm so glad though that today is the last day of classes, and then I have 2 exams/week for 2 weeks and then I'm done!! And, if things are bad and I'm put on bedrest or something (which I really really hope doesn't happen!) I can get out of the exams that are after that and take them later, or something else that my school comes up with.

Thanks though!

 

[EBeth0000]

Law School, mama?! Good night! You are officially a goddess. . .hang in there, I hope everything works out ok the next few weeks

 

[Super~Single~Mama]

haha, I'm no goddess! I had to stay in school this semester b/c I didn't have any other source of income, and my boyfriend is also a law student. And, next semester I'm only taking 6 credits - which means I get to be home with the baby all the time!! I'm excited for that, it should be a pretty easy semester!

 

[Super~Single~Mama]

So, I was wondering - I have a feeling this baby is posterior, would that affect my belly measurements at all? I always try to get baby to turn around, but it just won't cooperate, hopefully it turns before all is said and done though.

Could that affect measurements though? Or am I just reaching here?

 

[squishymama]

All sorts of things including two different practitioners can cause your measurements to be off. I wouldn't stress too much until you get the U/S. Also remember that true IUGR is less than 5% growth, often they get concerned below 10%, but that is not true IUGR just a little person.