Midwife told my friend baby hasn't grown...

[mountainboo]

She is 29 weeks and at her most recent appt the midwife said the baby hasn't grown, she is booked in for a scan on Monday and had a 4d scan today (because last one you couldn't really see baby) and she said all well. So I'm curious, baby must be growing!! How can the midwife say that? Also, why couldn't the 4d scan people tell if baby has grown?
By the way, if anyone is interested, particularly redcrx as she always comes to the rescue, I'm 23 weeks now and very happy, I just hope the remainder of pregnancy goes well. Im a real worrier about the slightest thing.

[redcrx]

heres the link MB, its not very well written but i was suffering from sleep deprivation at that point. http://messageboards.ivillage.co.uk/n/mb/message.a sp?webtag=iv-ukpbborn&msg=2632.1&ctx=1024

That link is for one of many stories on a birth story messageboard. You may want to read a few more.

[mountainboo]

Thanks red, will have a look now. God knows how this new answerbank thingy works, it doesn't tell you how to add people onto a friends list. Anyway cheers again

[redcrx]

Have invited you as a friend instead. You just need to accept my invite and it should then add me as your friend too.

To add friends just click on there avatar pic and send invite.

[mountainboo]

Oh right, will do. Just read your birth story and can I just say WOW! He really didn't want to come out did he lol. It's a shame the first m/w was so nasty (wonder if it was that one in bringing up baby). What is prostin by the way? Sounds like you did the whole thing fantastically, especially without any major pain relief. I REALLY hope I can cope enough with the gas and air alone. I've told mr mountainboo that under no circumstances am I to allow myself to have pethadine, even if I scream at him!

[Goodsoulette]

Apparently, checking the height of uterine fundus with a tape is a wooly practice but gives a rough idea as to whether the baby is growing. At 29 weeks, I think her bump should be 9 cms above her belly button. This all depends on when she last saw her midwife though, if she saw her three weeks ago and the bump seems in the same place then maybe it is cause for concern but if she hasn't seen her for 8 weeks and the midwife feels it just hasn't grown enough, then there's probably less need to worry. Either way, she'll either get this new scan and everything will be ok or she will just have to go back for more scans. I am predisposed to having small babies so had to have more scans than usual. Both my children were born healthy. This could also indicate that the baby is in a breech position though.

[redcrx]

why not pethadine? what other options have you considered. tbh Id have probably taken what i could when i was trying to shift that last bit of cervix but my phobia wouldnt let me lol

[mountainboo]

Thanks goodsoulette.
Well red, everyone I have spoken to that took pethadine told me they were sick on it. Unfortunately I have a phobia of being sick, so I'll try anything as long as it doesn't make me sick. Stupid I know!

[redcrx]

lol, i wouldnt say that was stupid at all, its no different to me and needles.
Have you been on any courses run by the hospital or midwives? The one i went on went through all the pros and cons of each pain relief and the effects on mother and baby. It may be worth asking if they run one near you.

[Psychick]

Pethidine was the first thing I had when I was having my daughter. It didnt make me sick at all but did sting like hell when administered!
The only thing that made me sick was the gas and air. I threw up all down myself and was left to sit in my own vomit!! Hence why Im determined to have this one at home lol

[redcrx]

oh and sorry, prostin is a hormone that they used to induce labour. Its a pessary that they place on the cervix and is to help dilation. The reason it didnt work for me was that i was already having contractions, but because litte CRXs head wasnt in right place there was no pressure on the cervix to help open it. So they didnt want to give me too much prostin in case my cervix and uterus was overstimulated.

[redcrx]

lol dont blame you psychick, at least you can change and do what you want at home. Im not allowed a home birth because of little CRX getting stuck :(
gas and air made me feel awful too, i hated the feeling, like being drunk.

[Psychick]

Thats just one of many reasons why my hospital delivery was a bad experience for me red lol

[redcrx]

well its good that they are staffed enough to allow home births where you are psychick. Some areas just refuse them still and i dont think thats right. My mum had her first 3 at home with no bother at all, jammy git doesnt even feel contractions! her 4th was at hosital and she hated it!

[Goodsoulette]

pethidine is an opioid, that's why it makes lots of people sick. I had it with the first and it was good because it's a relaxant and after 15 hours of labour I needed some sleep (between contractions). Its a weird drug because sometimes it can actually speed the delivery up and as pethidine can cause breathing problems in new born babies especially if born within the first few hours of it being administered. There are no benefits to the baby of having pethidine, I would never have it again. Epidural fine if needed, but pethidine never, in my opinion. It crosses over to the baby ( although antidotes are available if needed) and is present in your breast milk after.

[Psychick]

Im in Kent red. The midwife seems more than happy for me to have a homebirth and all being well, there should be two midwives with me when the time comes. Another reason for a home birth is that the hospital is 40 minutes away with clear roads and my first labour was 4 hours 19 minutes so staying home is probably a better option lol Knowing my luck though, this one will be longer after everyone has said about them getting quicker!

[nat_84]

Hi mountainboo - just so you know i was told i had to have growth scans throughout my pregnancy because they said my baby was small but when she "popped out" she was the longest bloody baby i've ever seen! lol. Even the midwife said "gosh she's long"!

But i'd rather they kept a special eye on things than ignore any doubts they may have!

So i'm sure its nothing serious - good luck to you and your friend!! xxx