Francesca is our 2nd child.  At the 20 week scan she was found to be "small for dates".  We were referred to Kings College Hospital in London, where Professor Nicolaides diagnosed severe IUGR (probably due to placental insufficiency).  After 25 scans in all (to decide the optimum time to deliver) Francesca was born at 35 weeks, weighing 2lbs 15oz (1.335kg).  After 5 weeks in Special Care Baby Unit she came home weighing 4lb 2oz.  Now 5 years old she weighs just 12kg and is 97cm tall.  She has had some professional help to learn to crawl, walk and pronounce the harder sounds and still sees an endocrinologist; fantastic support provided, almost all by the NHS.

The Child Growth Foundation developed and owns the growth charts that all UK parents will be familiar with from their little red books, provides a support network for parents and grants to fund various research, including projects at Kings College Hospital. Thanks for visiting my page; great if you do donate; alternatively check out their lovely Christmas cards: www.childgrowthfoundation.org/xmas_cards_2009.htm.

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