hello again...its me...update and question at end about small babies

So this pregnancy has been A LOT of stress on me. I mean I am happy to be getting this little bundle of joy but with the constant concerns and worries I have not had any time to actually get to enjoy it. First they scared me with down syndrome (which we still havent confirmed yes or no), then the holes in her heart, and now the latest...shes small. I had 2 appointments yesturday for an fetal echocardigram and OB visit. At the u/s they give me good news and tell me the holes and closing and are now really very small and balanced (so no concern anymore until after birth) but heres the kicker...on her growth scan she is only measuring in the 26th percentile. So now I have to get u/s's every two weeks to keep an eye on her growth and if she falls below the 20th mark we have to do additional testing has that is the determinent line and now they are already talking about steroid shots in case they have to induce early to mature her lungs. However, my Ob was surprised that my belly measurement is spot on and now she has ordered that since I cannot physically eat anymore than I am already doing I must drink 2 Ensures a day or milkshakes, or something else high caloric. So now for the next 8-10 weeks, I will be doing nothing but stressing...does she have dow syndrome, is she growing okay, is she going to be premature, are we going to have to induce early to just get her out, and is this ALL my fault because I didnt take better precautions to not get pregnant so early out. This is so rough on me especially with trying to balance school and finish this semester.

But my question, has anyone else had a baby that was measuring small? If so was it consistant at every growth scan? If you were able to get baby off the small side how did you do it? I am getting really desperate to gain weight...I wouldnt even care if it was 20/30 lbs, just something.

Simone

I had a similar situation when I was pregnant. I had my surgery in May '08, found out I was pregnant in October '08. At my 32 week growth scan, my daughter was only measuring 2lbs 11oz. They kept me in there and kept re-measuring, I guess they were hoping if they kept trying, they would get a higher weight? lol
My fundal height always measured right on, or 1-2 weeks ahead. I was just told I would have a smaller baby, and she would be about 7lbs at birth. (When did 7lbs become a small baby? I thought it was a good weight! lol)
Anyway, my daughter was born at 39 weeks exactly, and she was 7lbs 3oz. I would try to get in what you can, but try not to stress over it. I know it's hard. I would try to eat every 3 hours, even if it was just something little. Good Luck!

Thanks Jessy. Its really reassuring when I can read success stories from others who are in my shoes. Makes me believe, hey is she was fine there is no reason why I cant be too.

Unfortunately they gave me no estimates on what her size could be by birth but I know that right now she is about 2.5lbs and I guess her measurements are small. Hopefully when I go back in 2 weeks or even by the next month she will have a growth spurt and catch up. And then they will probably be telling me shes chuncky (but I'd rather chuncky over too small).

I can't remember when, but towards the end of my pregnancy my doctor started to make me extremely nervous and emotional.  My baby girl was tiny and her leg and head measurements were growing, but her stomach was not.  I was diagnosed as having IUGR and had to do stress tests and growth scans and what not.  It sucked and I hated it.  Finally, at 39w0d my doctor wanted to induce me.  He told me that it could be that she wasn't getting all of the nutrition she needed from me and they wanted her out so she could get everything she needed.  Talk about freaking out.  I cried for hours.  I was 2.5 years out when I got pregnant.  My baby girl was born at 39w1d, weighed 5lbs 15oz, 19.25 inches long and PERFECT.  She was just tiny, and still is tiny to this day.  She just turned 16 months old on the 1st, is extremely advanced (talks A LOT and you can actually understand her), walked at 10 months, etc.  She is almost 32 inches tall and only weighs 21lbs.  She is tall and skinny and perfect.  I know it is hard.  I have been there.  Nothing will make you stop worrying until your baby girl gets here and shows you just how perfect she is.  But, try not to get yourself too worked up.  Some people just have small babies.  My stomach always measured right on, even though no one ever knew I was pregnant.  The placenta was a tad bit smaller than it should have been and the doctor thinks that had something to do with her size, but again she is 100% healthy. 

Thanks Malena. Reading your expiernece was very comforting to me. Thats what they are going to diagnose me with (IUGR) if at the next scan in 2 weeks if she hasnt gotten any bigger or not enough for them. Right now I am already sceduled for scans every 2 weeks for the rest of my pregnancy (even if she does grow) and stress test. I think all of these worries and what hopefully will be a bunch of false alarms are causing me stress. Ever since I found out this news I've been crying off and on nonstop...every time I even think about the possibilties my heart breaks and the tears start. Yesturday after the u/s I even physically became sick after hearing the news and Ive been feeling sick to my stomach ever since...what a great thing to happen now that I need to be eating more than ever. I am sooo happy Libby turned out so perfect and hopes my munchkin will have a similar outcome.

Keep your chin up.  I am sure everything will be fine.  Worrying just causes more stress that you don't need, as you have figured out.  And to help you smile.... My peanut went from this




to this in a year...

Awww she is adorable. And yes the stress is not good. I have been feeling so sick to my stomach the past few days but it escalated yesturday to the point where all I ate all day was a slice of toast right before bed (I attempted food earlier in the day and it wouldnt stay down)....just what I needed to happen right after being told I need to gain weight. Today I am doing a bit better but still havent eaten very much but I am trying.

I can't help on the questions, but I just wanted to tell you I am so sorry you are dealing with this.  I know how it feels to be working, going to school, and doing everything you can to help your baby have its best start, and then every visit feels like you failed.  In my case, I have the opposite issue.  I gained too much, and my baby is chunky.  They have an issue with it because I have a petite pelvic frame.  On the gaining weight thing, its going to be hard for you because you are so early out.  Sweetie, it is NOT your fault that you got pregnant this early out.  There are people that get pregnant with TWO forms of birth control this early out.  If its meant to be, its gonna happen.  Your baby is going to be fine.  I don't know your religious beliefs, but(and yep, this one is hard for me to do) you have to trust that if your baby has made it this far, it has a purpose and it is meant to be born and it will be fine whether it has down's or not.  You know...I see so many people scared of Down's, and yeah it is limiting to an extent...but you know, these people with this condition, especially children are some of the sweetest people I have ever met.  They have purpose too.  And I know you know that.  Like me, like us all, you want your baby to have the best start and with as little complications to begin life with as possible.

How did I gain weight?  Well, I was further out than you so it was easier for me, but I just ate whatever the hell I wanted.  I didn't count calories...I just ate.  With you, its gonna have to be more deliberate.  I'd say liquids definitely.  Whole Milk, very high caloric smoothies, put sour cream on everything, eat butter straight if you have to(he he he...I used to do that as a child and my mom wondered why I was chunky), if you can stand the sugar load...coke?  Break all your rules...thats the only way you are gonna gain.  Can you eat bread?  Eat it white.  Eat potatoes.  Eat candy.  Eat everything you were told not to, and then some.  Go to smoothy king and order the worst smoothie ever. 

Thats all I got.  I hope something helped.  If not...just know I'm thinking of you and I truly think your baby is going to thrive.

Thank you for the response Anne. You are right and I am trying so hard to do just that...put it all in God's hands cause he has a plan for everyone but it is just so hard. I mean I'll accept her and love her no matter what, my biggest fear though is thst at my age and with my lifestyle (no college degree...wont have one until she is about 8 months, no stable job or income, etc) I wont be able to provide for her in the way she is going to need it. I wont be able to afford the theraphy she will need, all the extra doctors visit, can I handle the constant stress of worrying if her health will be ok. I mean I know the saying that the Lord will never give you more than you can handle, but I think this time He is getting wayyyy to close to that line because I am about ready to crack. Ive even been thinking lately I cant handle the stress and might take a medical withdrawl from school for the rest of this semester but if I do that I wouldve wasted all my time with the work Ive done to date and that will put me behind in school. I cant afford that.

The weight gaining is a mystery to me. I have been defying every rule thus far and I am still not gaining. Since becoming pregnant all I eat is white bread, I hoard carbs (pizza almost every day for lunch and a whole slice at that minus the crust), I drink whole milk when I use it, butter on everything it can go on, anytime I want it I give in to cakes, candy, ice cream. I do the works, I eat mashed potatoes almost everyday and drink 100% juice and I can finish a bag of tostitos chips by myself in a week but yet still have only managed to gain 1 measily pound which still puts me at down 30 lbs since finding out. So now I am going to try the Ensure, 1 a day to start because  I really hate milk and the taste of it (except in ice cream hehe) and then hopefully in a week I can tolerate the addition and bump it up to 2.

OK, your doctor is seriously ******g me off. I mean come one, you can have tiny and petite people, why not babies? My brother looked like a skinned rabit with a penis when he was born. Me? I was a chunk, 8 lbs 13 oz and 22 1/2 inches long.