Measuring MASSIVE for dates - help!!

[User3433399]

Just come back from MW appointment and according to fundal height I am measuring four weeks ahead for dates! I am 27 weeks and measuring 31. Apparently this is, quote, "off the charts". Until now baby has been bang on from all measures and scans, so it's a bit of a shock.

She wants me to go for a scan today if they can fit me in, which has freaked me out as there's usually such a long wait. I asked her if it could mean there's a problem with the baby and she deliberately didn't answer the question - just told me to go ASAP, but it's probably just the way the baby is lying.

I am not overweight (right in the middle of the BMI chart before PG and gained about a stone in pregnancy so far, if that), eat a healthy diet, don't have diabetes or any kind of history, so I'm a bit worried what it might mean. My first baby measured perfectly all the way through and was a normal weight at full term, just under eight pounds.

Any one else had any experience of being very big for dates? What was the outcome?

[mustardtomango]

I had the same, though not quite to the same degree - measuring 2-3 weeks larger thank he should. The midwives did an extra scan where several of them had a go at measuring his head /torso etc, and the outcomes they offered were:
A) my dates were out
B) he was just huge
C) I may have gestational diabetes

They've decided in the end it was B, though spent some time deliberating.

I'm sure its just precautionary, I'm now surely if scans area wholey reliable anyway. If need be, this justice gives them the chance to look after you better.

Good luck! X

[littleducks]

I had the opposite problem with dd, I measured tiny and found it very stressful with extra growth scans etc. she was born 6lb 12oz so while not huge not tiny either. I think I worried constantly about it for the last month of my pregnancy.

My advice would be to go for the scans but to try and stay relaxed about the whole thing

[tabbycat7]

My midwife said the same to me and sent me off for a scan. They measured ds4 and said he was fine, he'd probably be 7-8 lb. He was 8lb 16! But he was 10 days late and I had no trouble getting him out. A friend of mine was also told she waa huge, had a scan, they told her baby would be 10lb. He was 7.5.

It could be lots of things, maybe just how the baby's lying, or how much fluid there is or how you are carrying him. :)

[User3433399]

Thanks ladies, I feel a bit better now. I guess I'm panicking as a friend's SIL was measuring very large all the way through, and lets just say the outcome was not good. They hadn't taken the size of the baby very seriously in spite of her concerns.

I spoke to the midwife again just now (couldn't get a scan today as she'd requested so wanted to ask her what I should do), and she said she wants me to do it in the next two days 'in case there are any problems and we need to get you to the hospital'. She still wouldn't say what she meant though! Gah!

[AnythingNotEverything]

I went to hospital last week to be monitored due to decreased foetal movement (all fine now!) and was measured at 30 weeks despite only being 27. Midwife wasn't at all concerned, although I am pretty tall and DC1 was over 9lb.

Seems odd that they weren't concerned about me but your midwife is panicking you! I was a divested that as long as measurements follow the curve of the growth chart, the actual size of your bump doesn't mean much. Maybe with first babies its different.

I'd try get an answer out of your midwife, but enjoy the opportunity of an extra scan!

[FoofFighter]

Sh'es probably thinking either gestational diabetes or too much fluid.

Rather of her to worry you like this without actually saying much I feel.

[TheFalconsmistress]

Measuring 6 Weeks ahead here have a scan tomorrow x

[User3433399]

Thanks Foof that's what I thought. It's unlikely I have GD to be honest (normal weight, don't have a sweet tooth, no family history), so I'm worrying about excess fluid now. I'm sure she's just trying not to freak me out but I told her I'd worried myself by Googling and she still wouldn't talk about it.

Anything apparently being four weeks over is more of a concern than two or three. I'm trying to focus on the fact he was a normal size at the 21 week scan (middle of the centile chart). I am worried that fluid could have accumulated in the last six weeks though.

I told myself I wasn't going to freak out about this, and now I'm panicking

[User3433399]

Good luck falcon let us know how you get on xx

[valiumredhead]

Try not to panic

[valiumredhead]

Oooo over zealous with the flowers

[FoofFighter]

GD can appear out of the blue regardless of family history and your weight and it's def not because of sweet tooth

When have you managed to get in to be seen? (and why isn't your MW arranging that for you??)

[Carolra]

I had polyhydramnios (too much fluid) from weeks 27-38, I was measuring 3-5 weeks ahead depending on which midwife took the measurement. I had a lot of scans and had to do the glucose test twice, they were convinced it was Gestational Diabetes, but it wasn't... just one of those things apparently.

By the end of week 38, I was measuring back to normal, and ended up having a natural birth, dd was 7lbs 8oz and arrived 40+5.

I found having the extra scans quite comforting, it was good to see the baby and know she was developing as normal. It did hang over me for the last couple of months though, knowing that there was something unexplained going on but I was happy to have whatever tests they wanted.

[mistlethrush]

My midwife wasn't at all helpful with the scares. She diagnosed extra fluid at one check and then left me terrified for a week as I had an appointment at the hospital already booked for them - I ended up speaking to a friend who is in the business and said that it was complete tosh that she was talking about (turned out it was tosh).

She also sent me for a GD test - the consultant spoke to me and measured and told me I didn't have it - but that I'd have to do the test anyway just for good practise...

She also gave me a preeclampsia leaflet and told me to read it through carefully 'as she expected to see me in with it in the next few weeks'.

Charming!

DS was born a week early at 10lbs 5 oz...

[User3433399]

Thanks valium

That's interesting foof! I think MW did the GD test at this appointment (took two sets of bloods) so hopefully I'll know soon. I am pretty tired but only very recently, until two weeks ago I had boundless energy, but maybe that doesn't mean anything.

Carolra that's reassuring, thank you, so glad it all worked out well for you and your DD. Did they suggest a reason for the excess fluid?

[User3433399]

Foof first scan they could do is this Thurs so not too long to wait. No idea why she doesn't book them - didn't in the last pregnancy either even for routine scans, and it was a bit of a stress!

[User3433399]

Oh God mistle the pre-eclampsia leaflet, how awful! I'd have been in pieces! So glad it all worked out well - what a whopper

[pinkr]

Don't worry...I measured 40 at 32 Weeks. Turns out I have excecss fluid from gestational diabetes. Now we know i've got it we are monitoring my blood levels etc and now at nearly 37 Weeks I'm still measuring the same...I figure this means the baby is growing but the fluid is decreasing. I get another scan on thurs.

[pinkr]

Oh and I have none of the markers for gd...no family history, in no way over weight etc. these things just happen sometimes

[ratbagcatbag]

I measured 2-3 weeks ahead the whole way through, had a scan at 32 weeks due to decreased movements, they estimated baby was 7lb already. Sweepstake at work guesses were in the 10lb plus range bastards I ended up having dd at 37+4 (waters went so induced) at the humongous size of 6lb 12oz. I had gallons of fluid though, waters went whilst sitting on DH side of the bed, it absolutely flooded everywhere. :)

[Wickedgirl]

I measured 4cm too big with my second baby. I had an extra scan at 34 weeks and everything was fine. Gave birth 10 days early to a boy of 9lb 13oz. He is now almost 13 and is very slim. I am slim myself so a big baby was a surprise but I had a natural delivery using only gas and air

Good luck

[PoppyAmex]

"I had polyhydramnios (too much fluid) from weeks 27-38, I was measuring 3-5 weeks ahead"

Same here, DD was 10lbs 8oz, freakishly long and perfectly healthy.

[Freudianslap]

I was in a similar situation a few weeks ago, measuring MASSIVE, sent for an urgent scan that day. Was totally terrified....
But had the scan and baby was measuring absolutely fine, the sonographer said (very tactfully) that the midwife had possibly measured incorrectly but also said that te fundal height is affected by loads of simple things like the baby lying on its side etc.

Hope all goes well xx

[DialsMavis]

I measured big with DD2, they kept doing the glucose test and got me in for an extra scan. I read up that they always say the baby will be huge and they end up being 7lbers.... DD was 10lb 2oz

[flipflump]

The test is not done by blood tests, so you may still be asked to go for one. I was measuring 2 weeks over according to midwife. Scan confirmed baby was big but measuring one week over. Excess fluid can be a sign of gestational diabetes. If you have got it it's no reflection on a sweet tooth etc. Don't worry, you'll be treated accordingly and on Thursday you will have a better idea of what's happening.