Forum 2nd trimester

Growth delay due to a lazy placenta

12 replies

HereWeGoAgain
Looking for similar experiences

Here’s my situation. I’m currently 24+6. Last Friday at 24+4, I had to go to the OB-GYN for the '24-week scan'. He started expressing concern about the baby's weight. (Nothing had been mentioned about this before). At 16 weeks, the baby was at P58. At 20 weeks, at P26, and now at 24 weeks, P17..

He immediately said: don't worry yet. But in my opinion, doctors always say that until the last moment. From now on, I have to come for check-ups every 2 weeks to monitor the growth. His suspicion is a lazy placenta. That wouldn't transfer enough nutrients to the baby, causing it to systematically fall behind. I asked about the possible consequences, and they are that they might have to deliver the baby early if it stops growing or doesn't grow enough.

The next 2 weeks are going to be nerve-wracking.. hope it stays stable.. hope the baby grows.. hope they don't induce labor in the coming weeks...

Does anyone have an idea if a 'lazy placenta' can recover on its own? That it suddenly gets a boost and starts transferring a lot of nutrients again? Or should I just hope in the best case that it stays stable?

Normally, such significant deviations are only noticed around 32 weeks. The fact that they see it with me already at 24 really worries me.. does this mean that it will sooner or later lead to growth restriction... pfff if anyone has experiences to share..

Replies

  1. Beagle #2

    They probably won't see it normally until around 32 weeks, because after the 20-week scan, the next growth scan is usually around 34 weeks (at least in the Netherlands without medical indication). So there's no scan in between to check it.
    Is the baby also smaller? Are you both smaller than average? That can sometimes indicate a smaller baby.
    Our daughter had a larger head than average, and still does, but it's in the family.
    Lots of strength for the next two weeks! Hopefully your baby has grown nicely. Fortunately, they're keeping a close eye on you now!

  2. HereWeGoAgain started this #3

    @Beagle: we're not the biggest, definitely not. But our first daughter was just 50 cm and 3.530 kg. Although given our stature, they didn't expect a super big baby either.

    Now, whether the baby is big or small isn't really a problem for them. There have to be small babies too. The problem lies in the strong downward trend that the system shows. If the baby is at P17, it should follow its own straight line throughout the pregnancy. But in our case, it's going down on a downward curve.

    Starting next Tuesday, I'm also allowed to visit a university hospital where they'll monitor everything with specialists. I just hope nothing's wrong and that it stays stable. But the uncertainty until next week is so overwhelming; I don't know what to do with myself.

  3. Anonymous Guest #4

    Is it measured by the same person each time? Same device?

    I think it's quite a stretch to make such a statement at this stage. Growth ultrasounds are very difficult; they're often off the mark.

    Fortunately, Hope shows nothing wrong. Every child grows at their own pace.

    Wishing you lots of strength.

  4. HereWeGoAgain started this #5

    Yes, it's always the same person and the same device. They're indeed very careful with their statements. The first thing they always say is: "You don't need to worry yet." But that's hard when you've heard about the possible consequences.

    I have to go back in 2 weeks to see if there's another drop or if it has remained stable.

    The reason they're concerned now is that the drop seems quite progressive for this stage. At the very beginning of the pregnancy, we were even at P70, but they don't count that because until a certain number of weeks, every baby develops differently. From a certain point on, they should remain stable, and ours isn't doing that. But in the best-case scenario, everything could stabilize now, and I'll just continue carrying on. I just don't know what to expect.

    On the internet, you only read horror stories, but it's so unreal that you could experience it yourself. So I don't think about that.

  5. Fee Guest #6

    Hi hi,
    Around 24 weeks my baby was in the 44th percentile and at 26 weeks it had suddenly dropped to the 21st, so there was reason to monitor the growth even more closely. Two weeks later it had gone back up, so it was apparently just a moment of slower growth. I hope the same for you, try not to worry too much about it, as difficult as it may be. It's good that they are monitoring it strictly. Do you feel the baby moving well too? Best wishes, fairy

  6. HereWeGoAgain started this #7

    @Fee: That's reassuring to read. Did it go back up hard? Or was it just a small increase?

    No, I do feel it move now and then, but not very often/hard/long. That's why I'm a bit more worried. I do feel it, but I really have to lie flat, push on my belly, and concentrate. While this is my second child, so it should actually be more frequent and stronger by now. At the 20-week scan, I hadn't even felt it yet... Which wasn't abnormal for a second baby, but it did come less often.

    They did check the blood flow in the umbilical cord, and it was still good now, so the baby is definitely getting enough oxygen.

  7. Fee Guest #8

    I think he was again moving towards his old growth line, so around 45 weeks. Now I have to go back on Wednesday but don't expect anything crazy. Hmm, that's tough if you barely feel your baby, seems like that's a real sign for me that everything is okay. If you're unsure about something, I'd just call and keep a close eye on the movements yourself!

  8. HereWeGoAgain started this #9

    @Fee: Good that he did that kick again. So I'm trying to stay positive and believe the baby can still give a little nudge in the right direction.

    Yeah, not feeling much wasn't a problem for me at first, but now it is, since I'm connecting it with everything else that's been said. Now I'm constantly feeling my belly every second. And now I don't know when I should start panicking; because before, sometimes I wouldn't feel the baby for hours. I'm trying to let it all go a bit until next week. As long as I feel an occasional kick here and there, it's fine, right?

  9. deb95 #10

    With my son two years ago, there was also a lot of panic. His growth curve dipped, and I ended up getting daily CTGs, placenta ultrasounds, and growth scans every two weeks. Two weeks later, he was back on his own curve. He was small, but nothing out of the ordinary. The gynecologist was probably just off base last time, or he had a temporary growth dip. At birth, at 38 weeks + 4 days, he was 45 cm and 2470 grams. Not big, but definitely not extremely small. So I’d say just wait calmly, even though it’s exciting!

  10. Mimi Guest #11

    Hi hi,

    I had 3 kids born with placental circulation issues at 37.5 weeks, 38 weeks, and 37 weeks.
    Their birth weights were 2500g, 2550g, and 2450g. Growth went well after birth, and they are/are now completely healthy with an immune system that’s just amazing.
    During my pregnancies, I also had growth ultrasounds every two weeks to keep an eye on things. I’m now pregnant with number 4, and this time I’m being followed by an obstetrician because they thought it would be better given my previous pregnancies.

  11. Anonymous Guest #12

    My daughter also had a low percentage. I don't remember exactly how much anymore, but her head was at P3 at 32 weeks, her belly at P17, and her length a bit more. They said she would max out at 2700g at 40 weeks.
    I gave birth at 39 weeks and she weighed 3.1kg. So she grew well after all. Good luck!

  12. Anouk #13

    What a relief to hear that things are looking good. I totally get the panic from all those constant ultrasounds, but as long as baby is growing well along their own percentile, it doesn't necessarily have to be dangerous. Keep an eye on it as agreed and trust your body. Let go of the numbers for now, because every baby has their own pace.

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