Baby Measuring Small - Conroe,TX

I was told something similar, but they were WAY off. My baby, supposedly very small, weighed 7.5 lbs and was perfectly healthy. These machines can't tell us everything. Often the panic they cause is far more dangerous than not using them.

Your body knows SO much more about growing a baby than any doctor or machine does. Please do not let them rob your baby of the opportunity to grow in the safest place it will every be-- your womb.

Whether you believe in evolution or design we can all agree that whatever created us is smarter than anything we could possibly think up or begin to understand, so why trust a man over your body? It makes no sense to me.

I do know how scarey it is to trust in nature when it is your baby concerned. Believe me, I know. I've miscarried 6 times and have done everything possible to have two healthy babies. ALong with that has come an incredible amount of research (I have enough college biology/ chem to enter a master's program in nursing, though I am not a nurse now -- I'm not just making this all up).

You are right to worry that if they go in after your baby she might not be ready and you might be kept from breast feeding her. That isn't good for her, surely. Also, hospitals are THE place to catch antibiotic resistant bacteria. Your womb is safer. Why does your doctor want to induce? Most first time c-sections are a direct result of induction in cases where a mom would have eventually birthed naturally.

Pick up a copy of The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer. It is the definitive research work (and very readable) about all hospital practices and their statistical outcomes in regards to birth. It's an eye opener.

Doctors are concerned with lawsuits and their careers (understandably -- I don't blame them) more than what is actually best for your baby. In a court of law, more intervention, while proven to be more dangerous to mom and baby, looks to a jury like a doctor did everything imagineable to help the situation. In reality, births go much better if they are left to Mother Nature and disasters can follow unnecessary interventions.

Sorry if this sounds like a rant, but from all the research I've done in trying to protect my own babies I just really feel a mother's protective fierceness about birth interventions.

I wish you peace in this journey and a healthy, relatively comfortable end of pregnancy.

I have never heard such a thing that babies are better on the outside. Those last few weeks are the most important for the final lung development, so, that sounds like taking a major chance. If there is nothing wrong, like others have mentioned, and, as long as you are not so far along that your baby is excreting feces, you have no reason to have this baby early. yes, you may feel miserable, but, inside the womb is the SAFEST place for that baby until he/she is ready to come out. Please keep that baby in as long as you can, keep taking your vitamins, and, eat well. All will be fine.
To add to the "guesstimates" being wrong; my first was estimated to be more than 9 lbs, and, I was told I might have to have a C-section. She was 7 lbs 15 oz, and, I had her naturally, 3 pushes actually.
You body is made to hold that baby in until ready, listen to mother nature on this one!

Number 1, don't Stress! I know easier said than done, but trying to be relaxed is the best thing for your baby. Number 2, babies normally gain about .5 a pound a week in the last few weeks so she's on track to being a 6+ pound baby and the weight est. done by the doctor are just that estimates. There are so many reason why the baby may measure small (date wrong, mistake in est., small genes, etc.) so unless they can determine something like reduced fetal movement or the placenta detaching, I would let her cook. I know the last couple of weeks are awful but unless there's a real problem babies do better on the inside. Let all the doctor's appointment be a way of reassuring yourself that everything is ok but if you think they're overkill then talk to your doctor about it. You’re more in tune to this baby than any machine twice a week will be. Blessings to you and your new baby.

I am a senior midwife student. Ultrasounds are EXTREMELY unreliable in guessing weight. They can be as much as two pounds off. Do not let them induce you. Your baby is fine. You also do not need the serial ultrasounds. Some research has shown that the sound waves that ultrasounds make can actually impede growth. My best advice to you is to find a different care provider, preferably a midwife. Why are you doing a 24 hour urine test? Was something off in the standard urine test?

Lisa

My 1st daughter measured small at 33 weeks, we watched until 36 weeks and was induced them. She was 4lbs 15 oz, but very healthy. Indeed she did grow better on the outside. I will say a prayer for you...I know how scary this is for you.

Well, I hope everything works out for you!!! I dont believe in that guessing game that Dr's do. I was told that my child was estimated to weigh 11 pounds. 11 POUNDS!!!! Sweet Lordy!!! Well, turns out, she just had a big head (still does, wink wink) She was an almost 9 pounder. Because of this "news" of the up-coming ginormous baby, I opted for a scheduled c-section. Boy, hindsite is 20/20. What I wouldnt give to have tried for a vaginal delivery. I most likely wont have anymore children. so, that was my one chance. I'm grateful to have a wonderful child....but a little sad that I listened to the "experts" and not my own gut.

Congrats on the baby...everything's going to be just fine!!

Margaret :)

I'm not sure I put much stock in those size & weight estimates (especially if they're not 100% sure of conception date). They told me when I was 35 weeks that I was on track to have a 8.5lb baby... She was 7.7 (at 41 weeks and we were positive about the conception date)! I personally would not elect to induce simply based on size unless there was other evidence that the baby was in distress or my health was compromised. In an otherwise healthy pregnancy, I think the best place for her is in the belly. And inducing because the mother is uncomfortable, honestly I think that's risky.

Now, the above being said... I thoroughly believe that you need to trust the advice of your doctor (assuming you have a good relationship with him). If he is urging you to induce, that is one thing... If he is merely suggesting it for you to consider because he doesn't want to spring the idea on you and stress you out, then that is something else.