NHS appointments seem rushed I wish I could go private

Unfortunately they are so limited on time but you shouldn't feel like you're not getting your questions answered or feel bad for asking them. Don't know about the size unfortunately..I'm 33 weeks but haven't had a scan since my 20 week. In fairness, I have a feeling they don't really do much in the way of private maternity care so it probably wouldn't help much! Except paying for a private midwife/doula.

I had a scan of 32 + 5, and I was measuring 4.1lb then. I was told my baby was a wee bigger than expected as on previous scans, we weren't anywhere near that. I was told not to worry too much about it as they could be off by something like 20% on either side. My last midwife appointment was double booked so two of us were there to see her st the same time and she had to try and see both of us before the next window so she didn't fall behind as my GP practice only has 2 midwives overseeing everyone. Unfortunately, I think everyone is doing 100 things at once to stay a float.

Try not take the sloppiness of midwives and docs to heart. They are overworked and honestly see us as just a number on a paper. I personally know some midwives and consultants and it’s shocking at how disconnected they are to their role. Some are certainly better at presenting to care! If you want to be heard and answered, do your research and speak up loud and firmly. When you are in labour, make sure your birth partner knows exactly what you want and can be your voice when you’re dealing with pain. I would recommend you focus on baby and make everything for their arrival special. Dont focus on the crappy NHS service. When baby is here, you will forget all the hospital appointments that left you feeling confused. In regards to your baby measuring “slightly behind, but also in range” this means baby is on a lower centile. But probably fine! Have a Google of how the centile charts work that the consultants and MWs go by. Enjoy seeing and hearing baby at your scan

What percentile are you on?

I had a growth scan at 32 weeks exactly and baby was measuring at 4.2lb. I was told this was perfectly average and not booked for any further growth scans.

Have you got your green hospital notes? On there they usually print out the scan measurements in a chart and it’ll show you where on the chart for each measurement you fall :) At 33W I think 4.8 is around average, but they don’t tend to worry unless baby is lower than the 10th centile or higher than 90th. You’re on track, you’re just not bang in the middle. Not a big deal and the growth scans will just measure you again in two weeks to see if baby has caught up :) It’s honestly SO common. Not every baby will follow a straight line of growth, but yours falls safely within the centiles and within the averages so it’s not a cause for concern at all! What is concerning is her not properly explaining that to you or answering your questions. Please advocate for yourself. It may help to bring a friend or partner next time who is a little firmer and can advocate on your behalf and push for them to take the time to give you the proper care

Is that from your midwife or a scan? Xx

@Rosie from the scan

So you’re on the 14th centile for fetal weight, which is fine and within the lines! Basically it just means out of 100 babies, if they were lined up in terms of weight, yours would be number 14. And all your individual measurements like femur, head and abdominal are all bang in the middle. Looks like a healthy and happy baby :)

I think I would read that as baby is about 25th percentile which is about where I’m measure at 29 weeks I think as long as it’s above 5% they don’t worry. I know it’s confusing with my first they kept telling me baby was measuring 8lbs when I had a scan at 36 weeks which made me panic as I thought my goodness this is when they start putting on more weight. However she was actually born 40+4 weighing 6lb12 so it’s definitely hard to actually estimate. Saying that you shouldn’t feel like you can’t ask questions maybe ask your midwife if she can go through it all with you x

I'm also 33 weeks I'll be 34 weeks. I had a scan at 32 weeks and baby was estimated 4lb 1oz as well, wasn't told he was under normal average but still within range was just told he's okay. I think it just means that you'll be expecting a smaller baby when born so on your chart they are following below the middle line but still above the 10th centile which is okay and you can still give birth to a healthy baby

In Wales we are all online for measurements, so let me send you a photo of my chart now as I know my baby is measuring smaller. I don't have a big bump myself either which is the reason I was sent for a scan in the first place. My son was a small baby as well 6lbs 5oz

@Alexandra okay that makes a lot of sense, but isn’t 14th too low for out of 100?

Really hoping that this doesn't come off as insensitive, it's not my intention at all... your baby is growing as they should be, they're within the normal range and your growth scans suggest that medically, everything is going well😊 they just think that baby will be fairly small, ie, pack newborn sizes in your hospital bag! I try to remember that bad bedside manner is more common the higher up you go with medical staff, they're human with huge responsibilities. When you're seeing someone like a consultant we just don't know what kind of news they've just had to deliver or what they're going to have to tell their next patient. They deal with some incredibly difficult outcomes and having been a sick patient (with sepsis) with a sick newborn (with meningitis) I can hand on heart say they were so lovely and I know we weren't the worst patients they were caring for. It takes a lot out of a person and as nice as they were with me, I can imagine they seemed preoccupied in clinic, please don't take it personally!

No, 14 isn’t too low. Basically the scans aren’t super accurate, which is why they don’t tend to be really worried unless you’re above 90 (which could indicate gestational diabetes) or below 10 (which could indicate the placenta not working properly). Other than that they don’t tend to be too concerned because they know the scans are not accurate. Measurements fluctuate from sonographer to sonographer, can depend on baby’s position that day etc. they’re just a general indicator to give them a rough idea. Which is why they booked you in for another in two weeks - to take a second round of measurements and get another average and just monitor things. They’re just keeping an eye to be on the safe side. It is not a cause for concern as you’re still within the average brackets. Many, many women have growth scans. It’s actually pretty common nowadays and it’s good they’re being thorough.

My baby is plotting along the 12th. They’re not concerned unless it’s lower than 10th. Think about 100 babies all in a line, with the 100th being hench (!) & the 1st being teensy, & then all the babies in between. All of them have the potential to be healthy and happy, it’s just yours is the 14th baby in that line. If they stay there, or thereabouts, no issues, and that’s what the next scan will check for. If you call your midwife after & ask for a chat about centiles & growth, because you’re worried, I’m sure they’ll make time to speak with you. My consultant appt at 23 weeks was also very rushed, but as other people have said, they see you as a bit of a number in a list. Please do advocate for yourself at your next appointment, & don’t let them dismiss you until you’re happy you understand. A line such as, ‘I’m sorry doctor, I know you’re very busy, but I’m quite anxious and struggling to understand fully. Please could you explain again, along with any risks I should be aware of?’

Unfortunately, there isn't really private maternity care, otherwise I too would be using it. Your baby looks on the smaller side of average, but there doesn't appear to be anything concerning. 😊 They do have growth spurts too!

@Claudia There sure is! There are several private wings in London. It will put you 15/20k out of pocket. The Royals, Celebrities and the rich go private! You don’t catch them on an NHS ward!! My hospital has private maternity care and a family member of mine just interviewed for a job on a private wing.

@Sabs Not my geography or price range 😜😜😜

@Claudia It’s so costly right!! I don’t think it’s worth it for people with average money. You surely get far more attention and care, but as you know (because you have a child) the pregnancy and contact with the hospital is only a tiny bit of one’s “motherhood” story! So much more to come after baby arrives!!

Thanks ladies for helping me today, I was so stressed, I woke up at 5AM and didn’t go back to sleep. I just need to educate myself more about pregnancy and baby. 💓