[RasJane]

I now have the best prescription a girl could ask for. Eat. Everything. The more sugar and fat and calories, the better. Ben and Jerry's. Cheesecake. Cookies, cake, pie, you name it. She wants me to stuff my face. Totally her words! Especially the glucose.
I'm 37 weeks, but measuring about 32. She's not super concerned for a couple of reasons. 1) I am really small. 5'2 and 135# at 37 weeks. I have very litttle fat and none on my belly, which she thinks *could* influence the measurement. 2) being small myself, this babe could just be a small person. And my measurements have increased 4 cm in the last 4 weeks. It's not like I suddenly quit growing. BUT, she is a little concerned anyway.
She offered an ultrasound, but it sounds like IUGR can't totally be diagnosed until birth anyway. She agreed that measurements at this point in the pg are often waaaay off anyway. She has a history of near perfect size guesses. Beats ultrasound every time. I will decline the u/s with a waiver stating I understand the risks.
So, the backup plan is just to eat, eat, eat. Can I just say how much fun this is going to be? Maybe I'm not too eager for this baby to come early after all.

:

 

[j_p_i]

have fun mama! It sounds like there is little reason for concern, so that's good. You're growing consistently it seems. I'll live a little vicariously through you, I don't need to gain more!

 

[Limabean1975]

IN my first preg, I was small, only had belly, skinny everywhere, even belly was small, and weight gain was low (19lbs total pregnancy)....yet I had a 9lb14oz baby with a larger than average head.
Size means nothin'!

 

[LisaG]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Limabean1975 IN my first preg, I was small, only had belly, skinny everywhere, even belly was small, and weight gain was low (19lbs total pregnancy)....yet I had a 9lb14oz baby with a larger than average head. Size means nothin'!

That's a relief to hear - people keep telling me "you're so TINY!!!!". Mind you, never in my life have I been called "tiny"

I've definitely got meat on my bones, but I haven't gained a lot of weight (18lbs so far) and I'm a little bit paranoid that the baby is going to be small and have difficulty regulating temp, especially since we'll be delivering at 38 wks. Baby is measuring fine via u/s, but I know it's not the most accurate tool. So, good to hear your story

 

[Limabean1975]

Yep, and nobody predicted how big he'd be, either! The midwife was quite surprised. This time around, one of the midwives commented that my long torso may hide a baby well - uterus expands more up than out.

 

[AustGirl]

 

[twins+1]

My daughter (twin) had IUGR. We had an u/s at 33 wks and she was small and then I went into labor at 35 wks and she hadn't really gained any weight since the 33 wk u/s. I was supposed to have an u/s the day after I delivered and if they had seen on u/s that she hadn't grown in 2 weeks they would've done a delivery then anyway since the placenta had stopped functioning properly for her growth. This is way more common in twins though. She was born at 35 wks at 3lbs 15oz and 17 inches long. VERY tiny compared to her twin brother who was 6lbs 3oz and 21 inches long. The good news is IF it is an IUGR situation generally its just the growth that slows and the neurological growth continues. She sucked, breathed and was fine - just needed to grow following birth.
I'm guessing you'll be fine, but just thought I'd let you know my story.

 

[lotus.blossom]

Mmmmmm. I wish I had the go ahead, especially for Ben & Jerry's! Enjoy it!

:

 

[RasJane]

Thanks, Jill. I appreciate that. I will research some more, but I'm feeling this whole pg like everything is fine. I'm usually a trust my gut kinda girl. It's almost always been right.
I did see my mw at the grocery store last night. It was funny. I told her to approve the contents of my cart. I had just picked up the ice cream and a chocolate pie. She said I had to eat healthy food too. lol I showed her the ravioli and juiice and said I was going to live on full-fat mac and cheese too.
She and dh agreed that they hated me. But I know it's quite temporary.
I know this babe is smaller than M, who was 8 1/2 pounds, but I kinda wonder if maybe it's scrunched a bit, making it seem small.
What I really don't want is to have a bunch of tests, get all freaked out, induced, and find out baby is fine, just like I know it is.
That, and who can argue with being told to eat all the food you can hold?!

 

[scrappingmom]

RasJane, that sounds like a good plan, especially since you are so close to the end, as long as you and MW are aware you can pay attention fro any OTHER signs of probs just in case.

With my first I had a doc who told me NOTHING and i was 17(turned 18 1 week after he was born) and ddint know what to ask for or anything.... anyway I measured good up to 23cm(so around 23-24wks) then didnt change until about 36wks I grew 1 cm, I'd gained about 7-8lb, but was overweight to start, ended up being induced at 38w2d for pre e i'd made it to 25cm, sent for ultrasound for IUGR i was told baby was around 8-8 1/2 lb, he was 5lb 6.9oz but super healthy, attentive, looking around the room immediately, nearly climbed up me to nurse.. etc.
The doc only gave me the name of IUGR and told me with how small i was measuring I should ask around if any kind of dwarfism was in my family... THAT scared me a bit lol, he's now 11 and over 5foot, broad shoulders, thick chest, he's not going to be tiny in the least! lol and he's top in his class in nearly all subjects so o isues on that front as someone else mentioned.

anyway.... hmm... i've never gained more than 15lb in pergnancy(that was WITH pre-e swelling) and never got that prescription..no fair! lol Enjoy!!!!

 

[kriket]

what a strict order! Cheesecake

I can show you how to eat, the nutritionist still thinks I was lying about my pre-preg weight because I've, in all honesty, gained too much.

BUT!! I have a jogging stroller, so all is well I'm going to jog and BF it all away!

 

[lilabet]

I've gained about the same, I'm up maybe 7-8 kg now, which is somewhere between 15-18 lbs. I'm not worried though, I figure it's baby weight and just not much extra. I had a couple of extra ultrasounds, but they showed everything was ok (as much as you can trust U/S!!!) I measure small on fundal height too...

I just kinda trust everything is ok really. Some people gain lots of weight, some don't.

 

[AlmightyIsis]

Just to show my support of you, I will have a milkshake today. Just so you don't feel alone, of course.

On a more serious note, your babe might be on the smaller side, but IUGR babies tend to do much better than premie babes of the same size. I have a feeling the both of you will be just fine!

 

[j_p_i]

I've been teetering... but I will also support you by having that creamsicle in my freezer now

 

[RasJane]

Thanks for the support, ladies.

I am surprised at how hard it is really. I'm so used to eating healthy. Mostly veggies with some meat and whole grains. I do enjoy the occasional treat and I'm not perfect by any means. But, cramming my face all day is really hard. I felt nauseous last night. Of course, I was beyond exhausted too, so that may have contributed to it.
I have read that IUGR babies really do pretty well for the most part As long as the IUGR doesn't impede development of crucial systems early on. I think I'm pretty safe at this point though.
And, heck, at no other point in my life is any hcp going to tell me to eat all I can hold!