update...

I close to never post on here but I figured I should post a small update. 

Today I am 34 weeks, which is a pretty big milestone for me because my son was born at 34 weeks.  So as of tomorrow I am embarking on new territory.  lol

As far as the pregnancy goes.  I have been getting twice weekly NSTs which I am very happy to get because I am a terrible worrier.  A few of my vitamins have gotten on the lower side.  They were B12, iron, and the worst was D.  My D was good for the first two blood draws and then got bad after 24 weeks.  I am currently supplementing for all of them, but I worry.... a lot!

Overall the baby continues to grow but has remained on the smaller side and continues to get smaller for gestational age with each ultrasound.  My last u/s from 33 weeks she was measuring in the 18th percentile down from the 28th.  My OB said for the most part if she continues to grow and remains above the 10th percentile he would not worry however we will still see how everything goes.  The bummer is I won't be seeing my regular doctor on wednesday for my appt because he is out of the office so I don't know what he will say about the most recent u/s.  My guess is that I will get another but how soon I am not sure. 

I know the topic of smaller babies has been brought up before but I don't remember what the specifics were.  I am curious for those who have experienced this how did your doctor approach the situation and is there really a way to fatten the baby up a bit.  I have a gut feeling that she is not going to magically get big but I would like to try everything I can to make things better if possible. 

I am really happy to be pregnant but I worry so much that I hope time starts to fly by soon!!

Well I never figured out how to load photos to a message and I am too lazy to upload to my profile.  I do have them on my facebook page though if anyone would like to add me.  I wish I had a cute bump but I am still plus sized so my bump kind of sucks, but oh well I still like it. 


http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=661247698

I am sorry you are worrying so much. I know how you feel, I am really worried too.  But for the opposite reason. My little girl is really big (above the 90the percentile at last check). We have another u/s tomorrow so hopefully her growth has slowed down a bit and I don't have so much amniotic fluid. I am 31 weeks on Thursday and at 32 weeks I have to start going to get NST's twice a week too. While I am happy they are going to be checking my little girl so frequently, I am worried about all the time I am going to be losing at work (not because I care so much about work, I just want to save all my time to be with my little girl when she's born). These appointments are in addition to my regular OB appointments so I am going to just live at the hospital/doctor's office, but I guess that's OK. I totally understand about being worried about the vitamins too. My numbers were all really low at my last draw as well. My iron is so low they are sending me to see a hematologist (yep ANOTHER Dr. appointment). Hopefully they'll be able to get my numbers up fairly quickly. I haven't been able to supplement on iron because of severe constipation issues (sorry tmi, I know). But I thik those are righting themselves so I should be able to start taking the iron now which is really good.

I just realized that I did something I hate when people do...I just made your post about me. I am sorry for that, I was just hoping to tell you that, while I have never gone through exactly what you are going through, I understand about the worry. I am so happy to be pregnant and I love my little girl so much, I just don't like worrying so much. I know it can't be good for her that I am worrying about everything, but it's hard to just shut that off.

I am sorry, I can't go check out your pics because f/b is blocked at work. But I'll go take a look when I get home. My bump isn't all that impressive either (0: Everyone thinks I am like 5 months pregnant because my bump is so small, but I guess I'll be happy after I give birth about that. I hope your little one starts growing a little more and you can stop worrying. I am sure you just want to enjoy your pregnancy.

Tina

P.S. I am TinaJosh Levine if you want to add me on facebook.

 So far I enjoy the NSTs because it eases my worries a little bit.  Hopefully you will be able to get them at the doctors office.  I myself have to go to the hospital for them and they can be very time consuming.  I stopped working as a sub teacher end of last year and although I am very happy to be fortunate and not work I tend to have too much time on my hands. 

Thanks for your response!

I have to get mine at the hospital too, but I am actually happy about that because the hospital is much closer to my work so it will be much easier than trying to go to the doctor's office. I had an NST a couple weeks ago and it really was very relaxing to just sit there and listen to my little girl.

I am so glad you posted an update! I am new to this pregnancy thing so I can't really offer advice about the smaller babies. I would say if your doctor is checking your placenta to ensure that it is functioning properly and watching the growth closely that is all they can do at this point. You may just be lucky and produce small babies.

I think it completely natural to worry. I have had low B12 and D during this pregnancy. Then, I just had my second blood draw from my PCP and I am not low in Iron. I had lap-band so I know it is not malabsorption but it still worries me. I know get two B12 shots a month, 2,000 units of D (most my high risk OB will allow me to take), and now going on to hemocyte for iron.

It won't be long until you will be holding your little girl!! I tried to go to your facebook page but it wouldn't go. I will PM you my name if you want to add me.

Traci

Traci thanks for your response!  I really do have confidence in my doctor but I can't seem to shake the worry.  The weather is unseasonably hot here for the next week so hopefully that means time will go by fast!

I had a smaller than normal baby. In fact at birth she was measuring the 5th percentile for her gestational age (37 weeks and 3 days). For this reason I was induced. Anaya was measuring fine but always on the smaller end until about the 30th week and then she started gaining slower but never stopped. They just monitored her closely and like your doctor said, no real worry until she hit the 10th percentile. She did this about week 34 and thats when I was told if she didnt start gaining about a half pound a week I would be induced when I turned full term (37 weeks) and I was also admitted to the hospital to recieve a set of steroid injections for her lungs in case something went wrong. By something wrong I mean they find her placenta wasnt functioning or she stopped growing altogether. To check on her I got a growth scan every 2 weeks, a doppler reading (by u/s) to check blood flow of placenta once a week, and NSTs 2x a week from 35 weeks until the day before I delivered. Also I only looked about 6 months pregnant when I actually delivered. I had a petite 4lb 10.8oz 17 in girl who was perfectly healthy and when checked her placentaa worked absolutely fine. No one knows why she was so small, she just was. And we tried everything possible to plump her and me up...too many carbs, high calorie drinks like boost and ensure, eating around the clock, sugar and sweets, you name it i tried it but nothing. At 6 weeks she was measuring about 8 lbs and at 4 weeks 7lbs 3oz. So she just ballooned.

try not to worry too much. Some babies are just tiny. Your OB seems to be doing the right thing by keeping an eye on the growth of your LO. Feel free to ask me anymore questions if your curious.

Simone 

Thanks so much for the reply Simone!  I feel very comforted by Anaya's story!!  I do have a question or two for you.  Along with the ensure, high calorie food, etc did they place you on any kind of bed rest?  Also I am curious as to what it was like when Anaya was born.  Did she stay in the room with you or was she taken away for a lot of monitoring?  With my son being a preemie he was taken to the special care nursery and was never in my room and was in the hospital for 6 days.  It was very hard on my at the time and I would like to prepare myself if that is a possiblity again.  I really do trust my doctor but it is still incredibly stressful not knowing what may happen.  In all I think that I would be okay with a 37 week induction but I hope my doctor will consider the steriods for me as well. 

Thanks again so much! 

Well since your already 34 weeks, they probably will not give you the steriod shots. I got mine 1 day shy of 34 weeks and 34 weeks is the cut off point. They thought there was a possibility they would have to deliver Anaya before even 37 weeks due to her size so thats why I got them.

Bedrest...I was on modified bedrest from 30 weeks to 35 weeks. Modified meaning beside going to class (where I had to sit even if everyone else was required to stand..like my bio labs) I had to be in bed. I could go grocery shopping but that was it and I was limited to 20 minutes total then I should be back in bed. No cleaning, barely any cooking, no laundry, nada. Then at 35 weeks I had to stop attending class and was put on complete bedrest until delivery (but i wasnt too compliant lol).

After I delivered her, which was natural and no csection surprisingly, I got to hold her and take pictures with her and everything. She did go to the NICU but not at all because of her size as she was completely stable. She went because she has a small VSD and ASD (both are heart mumurs) and they wanted to do an echocardigram and they wanted to check her out for possible Down Syndrome which she does not have. So for that reason she never stayed in the room with me. But then again we were both discharged 2 days after delivery, so no exteneded stay and she was only in an isolette for the first few hours after delivery(they didnt want her to have any food until after her echo so she needed an iv and monitors) and then she was moved to one of the regular crib thingys they keep newborns in right after the echo results were recieved which was early the next morning and she started regular feedings and was off all monitors. So if all thats wrong is your LO is small, you should be able to room together and go home together. Oh and most hospitals dont do the under 5lb babys have to stay anymore, as long as they can pass a carseat test then the baby can be released.

Feel free to keep in touch. I would love to ease your worries as others did mine.
Simone