I just turned 36 weeks pregnant. The issues started when I was approx. 30 weeks. I've been measuring a few weeks smaller than what I should via fundal height and external palpation.
Yesterday via ultra sound OB discovered that I have very low amniotic fluid (the low amniotic fluid is not caused by a slow leak or breaking of water) and that baby is in 10th percentile for it's gestational age and now is diagnosed with growth restriction.
My amniotic is so low that OB wanted to take baby via c-section yesterday but she consulted with another OB and we will try to wait until I am 37 weeks since baby is not in stress confirmed through stress test.
It's clear that the health of my placenta is not well and most likely caused by lack of good blood supply.
MY FEARS ARE.... If in deed my blood supply to the placenta is impaired could this cause my baby to have learning disabilities or retardation?
Im in such a panic from this... I'm having a hard time believing that baby's brain development has not been effected by this in a negative way.
Ladies: Thank you for all the responses & support... Your advice and kind thoughts have helped put me more at ease.
OB says baby will be on the smaller side. I've been on bed rest since Wed and drinking lots
of fluids. If baby remains stable OB will take baby via c-section on Thu Oct 29 if baby shows any stress OB will take baby earlier... either way baby will be born approx. 4 weeks from actual due date. Again thank you all for your support. J.
Hi J.,
My Fluids were low too & my son was on the smaller side & he is now 2 & so smart. What havve the Dr's told you? Don't assume the worse. You need to stay positive & send that energy to the baby. Talk to the baby. If you have major concerns ask the Dr. but to me it sounds like that you are going to have a smaller baby & he or she will be wonderful.
My doctor also found low amniotic fluid and did a stress test. Then my daughter was born at 36 weeks naturally and weighed 5 lbs 6 oz and is now 12 and a straight A student, and has been in the 95% for height and weight all her life after about the first year. My second daughter was born at 38 weeks and weighed 6 pounds 14 oz at birth but was not a good nurser and went down to the 1% in height and weight at 1 year. She is now 9 and is at the 10% for both height and weight. We have a friend who had a preemie at about 4 pounds and he will always be petite but he is healthy and doing well in school. They can be tiny in the womb and become giant basketball players or be fat babies and become a slender adult. The best thing you can do now is relax and give your baby as much time in the womb as possible. May your labor be short and your happiness long.
Hard not to panic or dwell on the possibilities, but know that I have had 2 friends with tiny placentas, and low fluid, and the babies were both healthy (one was very small, and still is on the petite side (she's 4, cute, smart, and quite a handful), the other is still little, and barely on the charts, but completely healthy. Try not to worry about things you have no control over, easier said than done, but wishing you the best!
I know htis is hard, but try to stress panic about this as you are stressing both you and the baby out. if your doctor is wathcing you close and suggests taking the baby early do what you need to. Learning disabilities are not the end of the world! there is help and you will be th eone to seek it out. When your baby is born contact Early Intervention or Birth to Three and have an evaluation to see if there are any issues early on. They come to your home for FREE and help you out. If your child is born ealry look into the yahoo Group called Healthy preemies and we all can help you out there. Do some research, talk to your doctor, there are some answers, but it is hard to KNOW how your baby will be until the baby is born. YOu will not be alone in this as there are specialists all over and parents who have the same issues. I worry your are obsessing on this and stressing yourself out..you will love your baby no matter what and the baby will love you..one day at a time, one day at a time. My son was early and we had EI in our lives from 5 months on, he is perfect and a happy 6 year old and almost all of his isses are gone (low tone is a family thing more) XXXXXOOOO
I will be curious to see what others say to your question. I will be starting my sress test soon, Im 32 wks along. Retardation is actually in my gene pool, unfortunately.
Both my boys were born early by C section because of low amniotic fluid. They spent time in the NICU but now, 2 1/2 and 4 1/2 years old they are 100% healthy.
First son was born at 35 weeks. Second son was born at 33 weeks. Good Luck.
I hope this makes you feel more at ease- I also measured quite small at the end of my pregnancy, and my daughter was born in the 5th percentile. She has since dropped to the 1st (she is 2 now). She is smaller than other kids her age, but she is bright, happy, very healthy, and according to her pediatrician- is advanced in motor and social development compared to other children her age. So, being small does not necessarily mean anything bad, but it is good to still be on the cautious side. For now, make sure to relax, get plenty of fluids, and practice some deep breathing exercises and imagery to help that blood flow.
My stepdaughter's first pregnancy was also plagued by low amniotic fluid and they induced her early. Her child is completely normal in terms of intelligence, motor skills, etc. Please note that many children are diagnosed with learning disabilities these days, and it has nothing to do with amniotic fluid in 99% of the cases. So it's way too early to panic over this - but of course, you're completely normal in worrying. When my son was a newborn, I had a breast infection and decreased milk supply. Of course, my doctor was away and the sub (and nurses) dismissed my concerns, treating me like a child. When my doctor returned, I was able to be seen, and my son had gained only 4 ounces in a month. However, all of the growth was in his head/brain. The doctor said the body compensates by sending the nutrition to the key area - the brain. So maybe that is happening with your baby too.
Once the baby is born, there are many things you can do to address development from a nutritional standpoint. One thing to look at is Now for Kids from Reliv - it's a nutritional supplement that can be added to formula or breast milk, and it has DHA/Omega 3s for brain development. Some companies are adding DHA now, but Reliv has been doing it for years. Kids get great results with it, many avoid allergies, and there is a marked decrease in colds, flu, etc. My friend Stephanie has a child who was diagnosed with 50 food allergies and a learning disability. All of that is cleared up thanks to Now for Kids. So there is lots of hope now and going forward for you!
