Small baby possibly weighing less than 5lbs?

[Princess Lollipop]

I am not sure if this is the right place to post this but here goes....

My best friend is due to have her 2nd baby on 6th May. She has been sick throughout the pregnancy and has put on 6lbs in total. She looks very poorly and her bump is tiny.

She went for a routine antenatal appointment last week at 37 weeks and her bump was measuring 29cms. The midwife quite rightly sent her straight to the hospital for a scan. My friend has been told that although she will go full term the baby is going weigh no more than 5lbs if not less :-( :-(

She is having to have a meeting with her consultant, another scan and a few more appointments with her midwife before her due date. I looked at her records yesterday and the babies measurements on the graphs are well below what they should be

Does anyone have any experience of this or anything anecdotal that I can say to put her mind at ease? No one really seems to be telling her anything and she is too afraid to search the internet.

Thanks for getting this far, you are stars!

[Lois Lane]

I don't have any experience as such but just wanted to tell you that DH's cousin has recently had twins and they were just 2 and 3 lbs respectively. They are very very wee and still in hospital but really thriving - both putting on a lb so they are now 3 and 4lbs. The hospital doesn't think they will be in long at all judging by how well they are doing.

I really hope your friend and her baby are ok.

Lois xxx

[*Fallen Angel*]

I hope everything works out ok too.

I don't have any advice as such, but DH's sister was only 5lbs when she was born, full term 37 years ago.

Wonder why this wasn't picked up sooner if the measurements were low on the graphs?

[Princess Lollipop]

Wonder why this wasn't picked up sooner if the measurements were low on the graphs?

My sentiments exactly a_a :roll: We have community led midwife care here and my friend has always measure a couple of cm less each time. However it was only last week when she was measured at the hospital was such a big discrepancy was noted (ie. 29 cm when she should be measuring 37cm)

Lois - I never thought about twins as generally they tend to be a bit lower in birth weight. Really glad to hear that your DH's cousins twins are thriving!

[Cat]

Hi
My son was born at 36 weeks and weighed just 4lbs 12ozs. I was also small for dates, 32cms at 36 weeks which is why they decided to take him out early.
He's now nearly 4 and a strapping 18kg 106cm big boy!!
TBH, these days over 4lbs isn't that small. The important thing is that at 37 weeks, everything will be formed, the last month is really just to put on the weight, which I guess her bubbs isn't doing.
They may decided to do a c-section as bubbs maybe too small to get through labour and the only other 'problem' I found was that he ate for England once he was born, trying to catch up, and wasn't a great sleeper (cos he needed to eat so much), although he was breastfed which health visitor said is more important in littuns.
I don't know if you can PM here but if you want more info, please feel free - if not I'm also on handbag under the same name (Hope I'm allowed to say that - sorry if not)

[*Fallen Angel*]

[quote=aimee's_angel]
Wonder why this wasn't picked up sooner if the measurements were low on the graphs?

My sentiments exactly a_a :roll: We have community led midwife care here and my friend has always measure a couple of cm less each time. However it was only last week when she was measured at the hospital was such a big discrepancy was noted (ie. 29 cm when she should be measuring 37cm)quote]

That is not good :no:

Maybe the placenta is not working as it should be, in which case letting her go to term minght not be the best thing.

[Jamtart]

My friend hardly put on any weight when pregnant... if you see my lastest bump pic, that was what she looked like full term! They were worried about her and told her her baby would be very small, probably less than 5lbs... but when she was born she was 7lb 3oz ... my friend only put on about 5/6lbs in all :shock:

Tell her to try not to worry too much!

[shamu]

Agree with Jamtart - these growth scans can be quite inaccurate
BUT am a bit :huh: as to why things haven't been acted on sooner - if she's been that ill she should have been having far more regular hospital check ups as there are things that can be done. And whilst the fundal height isn't that accurate, there's no way she could have been measuring a couple of cms below expected 4 weeks ago and now be measuring nearly 8cm below expected.... Hmm Sounds like her care has been suboptimal
ANYHOOOOO
She needs to talk to her consultant about what to expect etc. For instance, the baby may have to go to special care or stay in for a while etc
And it's true that many babies born very small make up for it later and don't have any problems.
Hope it all goes well for her - keep us informed
Shamu
;-)

[Princess Lollipop]

[quote="shamu"]
BUT am a bit :huh: as to why things haven't been acted on sooner - if she's been that ill she should have been having far more regular hospital check ups as there are things that can be done. And whilst the fundal height isn't that accurate, there's no way she could have been measuring a couple of cms below expected 4 weeks ago and now be measuring nearly 8cm below expected.... Hmm Sounds like her care has been suboptimal
[quote]

Shamu - her care has definitely been suboptimal. As it is her second she has seems to have been left to just get on with it until that is she was measured last week.

She was prescribed anti-sickness drugs by the midwife a couple of weeks ago but when she read the side effects (and some potentially were pretty nasty) she decided not to take them and cope with a few more weeks sickness. Another mum at nursery is a doctor and said that my friend had made the right decision.

Thanks for all your thoughts and comments, it means a lot and I will definitely be passing them on. Will keep you posted!

[Jamtart]

I hope everything is ok with your friends baby! and be sure to keep us posted!

[spritzer]

Late as usual to the thread but yes, I have anecdotes that might help!

My friend's baby boy was 4lb something, absolutely tiny - his sister took one look and announced 'It's Dobby' :laff: He had a couple of hours in SCBU as he was a bit cold but has been right as rain ever since and is now a healthy 2.5 year old. He's quite petite, but then so is his mum so no great surprise there.

My cousin had a terrible time with his first where she consistently measured worryingly small for dates and the docs were seriously concerned that she wasn't growing properly. They had a harrowing pregnancy and she was induced at around 37/8 weeks. The baby had walloped on her weight in the last few weeks and was a respectable 6lb or more (can't remember all the weights :oops: ) She's also a thriving 2.5 year old now.

Hope this helps :)

[Blonde Girl]

No idea why I am in this forum but anyway!

My sister's twins were both just over 4.5 lbs when they were born (at practically full term) and they are now very healthy ten year olds. In fact the little girl is only a few inches shorter than me, and I am 5'6" so her growth rate was certainly fine.

[Abbie]

I know 2 people who've had similar experiences to this.

The first one was told that her baby was small, probably less that 5lbs but when her son arrived he was 7lb 6oz

The second one was told the same thing, and her baby was 4lb, 5oz. She's now a healthy happy 3 year old with no health problems at all. She's a bit petite but that's it.

[Wol]

I know a story about a small baby weighing less than 5lbs - ME! I was very small for dates, born by emergency caesarian at 32 weeks weighing 2lbs. I was tiny but healthy, and have had no problems at all as a result of my low birth weight. That was 25 years ago and I know that technology is much better now. So even if your friend's baby is under 5lbs , he/she will almost certainly be completely healthy and happy in the future.

Px

[Hello Kitty]

I was 5lbs at birth and as people who have met me will testify I have thrived since then :grin: