Definitely ask the doctors about this. I cannot speculate. When i was pregnant with my second daughter, they were worried she had a heart abnormality. They did a special sonogram to test her heart. She turned out to be healthy. She is now 18 years old.

Welcome to the world of doc talk! First off, I think since the specialist today didn't seem concerned, you should be okay. If there was a problem, they would be doing more tests now or at least express their concern to you. Were you or DH small babies? You're on the small side, so it seems normal for you to have a small baby, or maybe your due date is off by a little bit? I've had friends whose due dates change during the course of the pregnancy. 6 pounds seems very normal and healthy to me.

It's so hard not to worry, but try not to. I'm just like you-I look it up on the internet and make myself worry more! If it will make you feel better, ask the doc what a baby with a small abdomen would signal (if anything?)

Back in Jan they told me they saw a dark spot on the babies bowel, which could be something or nothing-I had a follow-up 3 weeks later to see if it changed. A specialist that we've dealt with before basically said technology today is so good you see EVERYTHING (almost too much) and just because something is not standard-it's not to say it's not normal. I hope you understood that!

BTW, I'm the opposite of you-I was measuring a little bit bigger. DH and his sis were HUGE babies (both over 9 1/2 lbs, I was 7.3) My doc said genetics play a huge role in how big baby will be. Olivia was 9.5!

Good luck Momma Joanna!!!

Good luck!

DH was a HUGE baby 10 pounds (ouch). I was normal--7 pounds something. I've not gained much weight, and I have chronic hypertension, which is why I see a maternal fetal specialist in addition to my general OB (my BP has been perfect on meds for the last 2 years--not a bad reading yet!!) They still say the due date is late April, early May. I guess I'll be in good hands since I now have 2 doc appt's a week for the next 6-8 weeks!! Teresa is right, I'm on the smaller size, so that's probably why baby is small, but I hate to spectulate, too!

OMG, why are you asking a bunch of uneducated people about such a profound question?

People on the KT can offer support and encouragement, but none are capable of offering medical advice. None here, even those with a medical background, know your particular situation.

Your doc didn't seem concerned. What leads you to believe you should be concerned?

Personally, I think you need to chill... You can spend the last weeks of your pregnancy in a "bone-clenching panic", or you can enjoy the fact that you will soon deliver a baby. The latter case will provide more comfort to you and to the baby.

This may sound insulting, but really! Stay off the internet. Any symptom you may have, from itchy feet to a small abdomen measure on your baby, will have 20,000 crackpots to each 1 legitimate response.

Make a list of questions. Ask the doctor when you next see him/her. Make the doctor explain!

I know you hate you didn't think to ask questions, but don't beat yourself up. I freeze in situations like that too, and then think of a hundred questions later. Try not to worry. If anyone, I blame the stupid doctor for saying something like that and leaving you hanging. Why would it not occur to him to explain what that means? As badly as we need them, I almost hate doctors these days. So many are way too full of themselves and don't care a thing about their patients. Can you his office tomorrow and talk to him? If it worries you, I mean.

My DIL was just told this by her doctor. Abdomen not as big as it should be. They will be inducing her 3 weeks ealy as they feel the abdomen will catch up better outside the womb.
They also didn't seem all that concerned.
Try not to worry too much, and remember, no matter what some may say, this is a good place to come when you have concerns. You don't need your hand slapped.

I agree with jenuwin, you should be able to come here and not have your hand slapped.

While I may agree that you should try not to worry, but I TOTALLY understand how you are. I am the same way. And reading stuff on the internet is so stressful, I know firsthand. It really can be your best friend and your worst enemy all at the same time.

mary, it's her first child & she's new to all of this, cut her some slack. I see the point you were trying to make but you were harsh with some of your choice of words. I'm sure the last thing she needed right now was to feel like she was being scolded here.

My DDIL was told that near term.....and was so worried. Turned out fine....Jake was about two weeks early and weighed 7# 6 oz.
And it wasn't her regular OB that told her that.
I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.....

Well, while doctors know a lot, there is a lot they don't know. My 2nd was supposed to be small. Doc said so as I was starting labor --he was 7lbs 8oz. DDs baby was supposed to be late according to the doctors at the teaching hospital where they have the latest equipment and lots of experts. He was over 3 weeks early. Friend's GD was supposed to be quite early, but mom was finally induced because she was so late.

Relax. I agree--sometimes we know too much and worry unnecessarily. Follow the specialists lead. He is not worried.

I think some of the new technology is great for certain things but I often wonder what we did before we knew all this stuff about our unborn babies!LOL I personally think a little element of "surprise" is more fun,which really has nothing to do with the subject here but I just got home from a long trip and am preparing to take off again for another one so I'm a little goofy right now! LOL
Mary-I agree with Steph,you were a little harsh and could have been a little more tactful.
Bearcat-Don't worry,everything will be fine.I will be praying for a smooth delivery and a healthy baby!

Oh yes, we went through this with our first baby. A month before he was due, my dr. told me my sonogram was showing the baby was too small. She totally scared us by saying that I would need to see a specialist and that they might need to induce labor early. She mentioned Growth Retardation. Thank goodness there wasn't the internet back then. (1989) We spent the entire weekend so scared. I'll never forget my husband closing the door to the nursery because he couldn't face seeing it. She had us that scared. When we saw the specialist, he wasn't worried at all. After having several sonograms, they said he was fine, growing normally, and they didn't understand why my dr. had been so worried.

After all that scare, I delivered a very healthy baby boy.

Mary C, you were way out of line.

Sheryl

My first son appeared to stop growing at about 5 months, and the physician said my husband and I should think about aborting, as he wouldn't be 'normal'. We thought about it for about ten seconds and said 'NO - we will keep him'! He arrived at the due date, weighed 6 pounds 4 ounces, and today is 36, 6'3" tall, married and very successful in his life - we were scared witless for 4 months for nothing!

(((Bearcat)))

Mary - I couldn't disagree with you more. I would much rather listen to advice from patients who have went through a particular health problem than a doctor who spent maybe a whole 15 minutes learning about it. I know there's a lot of bad information out there, but I think the good outweighs it.

I think you should call that Dr. tomorrow morning, and talk to him, and ask him the questions bothering you. No need to worry another day. You were probably in shock by what he said, so you couldn't think past that statement, to what you should have asked, and now want to know. Call him, and pin him down on his statement. It's what he get paid for.
And feel welcome to come here and ask any time you want.
Leslie

Wow! Who knew the KT was just a bunch of uneducated people?

Nobody attempted to give medical advice. All but one of the responses were caring, compassionate, and encouraging. I notice others here managed to encourage bearcat to ask her doc more questions, and to remember what her professionals actually said, and everyone did it without being nasty or judgmental.

Okay, I want to cut in here as an NICU nurse to try and help you relax. Some babies are healthy and born with flat tummies and some babies have a huge pot belly when they are born. Some just need a good poop! They are still healthy. You weren't told anything was wrong like a bowel obstruction, the intestines on the outside of the abdomen or in a sac outside. Your little one is on the small side. On a sonogram they probably would have detected a diaphragmatic hernia if there was one. Probably a casual remark from the doctor has gotten you really worried. If there was something that was majorly wrong, they would have told you. You said yourself that both doctors seemed unconcerned. A 6 pound baby is a terrific size. Please relax and try and enjoy your pregnancy but by all means ask for clarification from the doctors if you are concerned. Set your mind at ease.

I agree with the others that you should enjoy these last few weeks. No advice except if I were doing it again, I'd probably want to sleep those weeks. You can ask questions next week when you go for your appointment.

Oh--and I wish someone would tell me my abdomen was too small. Sigh!!

Give the little one about 60 years, folks.

S/he'll likely be coming here or some similar place in that distant future to ask how to shrink it.

Oh, well, maybe hardly - our days of cheap food are numbered.

And - don't worry in the meantime, O.K.? Neither doc's worried ... I'd start getting worried when s/he/they said it would be a good idea.

In the meantime ... quite likely everything's O.K. - it is so in most pregnancies.

We don't fuss about them - it's the anomalies that get the attention.

And publicized.

But advice not to get worried until a problem seems indicated is easier given that paid attention to.

As Grandma used to say, "Don't cross bridges ... till you get there".

ole joyful

Thank you all for your caring advice and feedback. Of course, after I posted, the baby decided to turn around, so now I have some kicking in places that are not so pleasant!! I know that babies can turn up until birth, so I'm not so worried that he is breech right now.

I see the primary OB doc tomorrow, I'm going to make sure I write down all of my questions so I don't forget anything :) You guys, as always, are so supportive. After being a member of the KT for SIX years, I know where to turn when I need support and advice...it's just like asking a friend in person who has a baby and may have been through a similiar situation.

When I have a doctors appointment, I write any questions I may have on a 3 by 5 card and bring it with me right into the exam room.