Small baby/IUGR moms, come in please

[redheadbaker]

Jun 17, 2016 16:38:42 GMT -5 bowies said:

Jun 17, 2016 16:17:30 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Are you on blood thinners? That can contribute to IUGR.

Yes. My OBs haven't said anything about it but that doesn't mean anything lol.

I was on blood thinners, and had several growth scans because they were worried about his size. At 33 weeks, they told me to come to the u/s prepped to be admitted because he was AT 10%, and if he had fallen below at that scan, they were sending me to be induced. He was still at 10 at that scan, and they decided to leave him be. He came on his own at 38 weeks, weighing in at 5 lbs 15 oz. 

[awick14]

Jun 17, 2016 16:17:30 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Are you on blood thinners? That can contribute to IUGR.

I'm on blood thinners and this was never mentioned to me. weird, I will have to talk to my OB about this.

[redheadbaker]

Jun 17, 2016 17:12:31 GMT -5 awick14 said:

Jun 17, 2016 16:17:30 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Are you on blood thinners? That can contribute to IUGR.

I'm on blood thinners and this was never mentioned to me. weird, I will have to talk to my OB about this.

It's been a while, so I'm not sure I'm remembering exactly the wording my perinatologist used. It might only be an association? That conditions that are treated by Lovenox may also contribute to IUGR? 

[pb127]

Jun 17, 2016 17:50:13 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Jun 17, 2016 17:12:31 GMT -5 awick14 said:

I'm on blood thinners and this was never mentioned to me. weird, I will have to talk to my OB about this.

It's been a while, so I'm not sure I'm remembering exactly the wording my perinatologist used. It might only be an association? That conditions that are treated by Lovenox may also contribute to IUGR? 

I thought it was that a clotting disorder (known or unknown) increases the risk of iugr. Lovenox helps prevent/limit the clotting.

[pinotgrig]

Jun 17, 2016 17:55:19 GMT -5 pb127 said:

Jun 17, 2016 17:50:13 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

It's been a while, so I'm not sure I'm remembering exactly the wording my perinatologist used. It might only be an association? That conditions that are treated by Lovenox may also contribute to IUGR? 

I thought it was that a clotting disorder (known or unknown) increases the risk of iugr. Lovenox helps prevent/limit the clotting.

This is what I was under the impression of. That an uncontrolled clotting disorder could prematurely age the placenta.

[awick14]

Jun 17, 2016 17:50:13 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Jun 17, 2016 17:12:31 GMT -5 awick14 said:

I'm on blood thinners and this was never mentioned to me. weird, I will have to talk to my OB about this.

It's been a while, so I'm not sure I'm remembering exactly the wording my perinatologist used. It might only be an association? That conditions that are treated by Lovenox may also contribute to IUGR? 

Ok this makes sense. I'm on Fragmin (heparin) so a different blood thinner. My OB said that the only side effect is that I have to stop taking it by 30 weeks. If I go into labour on it I have to have a completely natural labour.

[bowies]

Jun 17, 2016 19:26:39 GMT -5 awick14 said:

Jun 17, 2016 17:50:13 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

It's been a while, so I'm not sure I'm remembering exactly the wording my perinatologist used. It might only be an association? That conditions that are treated by Lovenox may also contribute to IUGR? 

Ok this makes sense. I'm on Fragmin (heparin) so a different blood thinner. My OB said that the only side effect is that I have to stop taking it by 30 weeks. If I go into labour on it I have to have a completely natural labour.

Huh. I know that's true of Lovenox because it stays in your system for a while, but I get switched to Heparin at 36w because it doesn't stay in the body for a long time (and for lack of a better word there's an antidote for it in case of emergency).

[pinotgrig]

Jun 17, 2016 19:37:00 GMT -5 bowies said:

Jun 17, 2016 19:26:39 GMT -5 awick14 said:

Ok this makes sense. I'm on Fragmin (heparin) so a different blood thinner. My OB said that the only side effect is that I have to stop taking it by 30 weeks. If I go into labour on it I have to have a completely natural labour.

Huh. I know that's true of Lovenox because it stays in your system for a while, but I get switched to Heparin at 36w because it doesn't stay in the body for a long time (and for lack of a better word there's an antidote for it in case of emergency).

My OB confirmed today that both heparin and lovenox can be reversed. It's just easier to switch to heparin at the end since it has a 12 hour half life vs lovenox's 24 hour half life. I still had to have my levels checked before they did my epidural, but you should still be able to get an epidural on heparin or lovenox.

[loira]

I'm sorry bowies.

A was suspected IUGR, delivered by c-section at 38 weeks. She weighed 5lbs 10oz, but I think some of that was likely water weight from the fluids they gave me for the section. Her discharge weight was 5lbs 3oz. She has remained small, and I never heard any reports about my placenta so I personally think she was just meant to be that small. I was on bed rest though, not for IUGR but for a shortening cervix. It sucks, but you'll get through it. ((hugs))

[awick14]

bowies- the dose I am on is long acting so I will most likely switch to the kind you were on once I hit viability. (Goes from 1 shot a day to 2 shots a day) then I will wean off of it closer to 30 weeks. I am terrified to come off of it though, only because it may be the only reason why this pregnancy has lasted this long

[bowies]

Jun 17, 2016 20:08:41 GMT -5 awick14 said:

bowies- the dose I am on is long acting so I will most likely switch to the kind you were on once I hit viability. (Goes from 1 shot a day to 2 shots a day) then I will wean off of it closer to 30 weeks. I am terrified to come off of it though, only because it may be the only reason why this pregnancy has lasted this long

Ah ok I didn't realize there were different kinds. I know what you mean about being terrified. I asked my OB for my Lovenox prescription at 6w instead of 8w.

[pinkpeony08]

I'm sorry you're having to deal with this. I was sent for extra ultrasounds for my second around 34-35 weeks because my fundal height hadn't changed between appointments (despite growing out of clothing). Everything they could measure was perfect, except he was at the 8th percentile and they worry below the 10th percentile and was told it is then technically called IUGR. I had to have weekly ultrasounds with every other week growth measurements. He continued to grow at the 8th percentile, and my placenta/fluid/cord flow, etc was all perfect. It was really stressful for me because I had a med free delivery with my first and really wanted to have the same with my second. I saw a different perinatologist at every appointment, and everyone had a different opinion on when the baby needed to be out. Some said no more than 38 weeks, others said if everything continued to look great, I could go until my due date. I had visions of being strapped to the bed with pitocin induction, and the way I managed my labor with my first was by moving around. I was terrified of induction and being strapped to the bed. And so stressed by getting a different answer to my question at every appointment.

In the end, I had an induction date scheduled for 39 weeks 1 day, on a Friday. I had an appointment with my OB on the Tuesday prior, ultrasound on Wednesday prior. I discussed with my OB that if everything continued to be perfect at the ultrasound, that I wanted the weekend to try to go into labor on my own but would be agreeable to an induction the following week. Had there been any indication the baby needed to come out earlier, I would have been fine with Friday induction. I had been up with prodromal labor I couldn't sleep through for at least an hour every night all week, and really felt I was just on the cusp of going into labor on my own, which my OB knew. I left a message that I wasn't planning to come on Friday given our discussion and that every measurement was perfect (although continued 8%tile and told the baby was at least 6 lbs at that point). He called me Friday afternoon when I hadn't come to the induction and wanted me to come on Saturday, in part because he was out of town the following week. After some discussion, we agreed on early next week. I went into labor on my own on Monday night and had the baby early Tuesday morning. 6 pounds, 10 oz and perfect.

I also looked into the Brewer's Diet and ate like crazy with tons of protein after I found out I was at the 8th percentile. I don't know if it helped, but it made me feel like I was doing something.

I do think he was just genetically small. My daughter was 7 lb 1 oz 3 days past due date and my second was 2 days early, so right about the same size. I knew my dates were right on as I was charting.

I am a size 0-2 and my husband only weighs about 15 pounds more than I do. He was 5 pounds at term. I was 9 pounds but 2.5 weeks late. I also think I carry babies kind of oddly because I have a super long torso. I was actually sent for an ultrasound at 38 weeks with my daughter for concern she wasn't growing, but she was jus over the 10th percentile, so it was no problem, I think in part to the difference between boy and girl growth charts. My daughter is almost 4 now and was at the 12% for her whole first 18 months. She's now about the 30th percentile. My son is right around the 30th percentile... except his head, which is 70%tile.

One word of advice I was given from a friend who is an ultrasound tech is to request for a senior ultrasound tech to minimize error of the ultrasound. I called and they were able to set this up at my ultrasound appointments without trouble.

I hope everything goes smoothly for you. Sending good thoughts for a growing baby!

[emb9907]

I will throw my story in just as another good outcome that can hopefully help you feel better. My last pregnancy I was taking baby aspirin daily -- had a couple huge bleeds so they had me stop-- this is something that now bothers me. My baby was consistently falling behind on growth never quite passing the 2 week mark. They just kept saying how small he was but not putting too much pressure on me for it. I was induced at 39 weeks and he was a born 5 lbs 9 Ozs. He dropped to maybe 5.4 but was overall super healthy and just did better on the outside then in. My placenta which looked normal in ultrasounds was in horrible shape and fell apart at delivery. Super gross and scary so any future pregnancies I will be seeking more care as I obviously have blood flow problems- previous miscarriages, lots of bleeding during pregnancies and now growth issues on my last baby. My boy is now 18 months old and still just a tiny guy weighing around 17 lbs but healthy and wild.