Measuring big at 28 weeks

[SleepForTheWeak]

I had my 28 week appointment today and I'm measuring 31 weeks (checked by 2 MW). At my last appointment I was measuring 2 weeks bigger. I'm going for a growth scan on Friday and I'm fairly confident it's maybe just fluid etc. I'm really short so there's not much room left in my uterus for a huge baby!

When readin my about it a lot of people have said they were measured big and warned of a big baby but actually they were a fairly normal weight. Has anyone measured big from this stage and gone on to have a particularly big baby? MW said if baby is thought to be particularly big I may have to be induced at 39 weeks, which would mean me not being able to have my baby in my local maternity hospital and having to travel 3 hours to the next one instead. Really want to avoid that!!

I measured slightly smaller all the way through when pregnant with DD and she was 6lb 15oz at birth

[Emma2803]

From about 29 weeks I was measuring big. I can't remember exactly but I think they were guessing him at 4lb 7Oz at that time? Not 100% sure. I also had a lot of fluid and baby was breech. They never measured fundal height cos they said it wasn't accurate when breech.
10 days before he was born they estimated him as 9lb 6 and booked me in the following week for induction as said he was gonna be 10lb+ but when he arrived he was 8lb 11Oz which I don't think is massive really.

[vainofmylife]

Thanks Emma. I've never been given an idea of the weight, it's just been done on fundal height although I guess I'll find out more on Friday at the scan (at least I get to see the baby again )

Your story sounds like a lot of others where they've really over estimated the size of the baby. I really don't want to be induced unnecessarily, my sister who I only marginally taller than me has had 2 babies at 9lb+ with no complications.

I wonder if they will always just veer on the side of caution?

[Forgettheworld]

I was measured big all along. Everyone said he'd be at the very least 8lb he was 6lb 4oz when he was born

[Emma2803]

I think they do tend to be overly cautious. And you just go with them cos they are the experts.
I'm sure you are so excited to see baby!!! My sister has had a 9.13 and a 10.4 baby!! 😱

[WyfOfBathe]

I was measuring about 2 weeks big. DD was born (vaginally) at 40w4 weighing 8lb10 so above average but not massive.

[SleepForTheWeak]

What is the big worry with a big baby anyway? I'd actually heard (from a MW) that they can be easier to birth

[thisismee]

I was measuring 4 weeks ahead at 28 weeks. I had a growth scan and they said everything looked average. DS came 40+13 at 9lbs 3. I was induced due to being late. Labour was under 4 hours .

At the growth scan they got some great pictures of DS in 3D

[indigo13]

This happened to me at 27 weeks and the midwife said its extremely common with second babies. I went for a growth scan just to be safe and all was normal. Baby was two weeks late and 9lb, all natural birth and labour with no problems during or after. Don't accept induction for big baby concerns, they're so often wrong and even if not, id always chose a spontaneous labour and a big baby than an induced labour of a slightly lighter one

[indigo13]

*rather than

[EdgarAllenPoe]

I measured big throughout my first pregnancy and at 5'2" it really stuck out the front, nowhere to hide it! No excess fluid or GD, just one really big baby, which is common in my family.

I was induced at 41 weeks because my waters had gone 2 days previously but no sign of labour. A scan 3 days earlier indicated baby was over 8 pounds. They don't induce early here just because you're big, it's not recommended since scans are often inaccurate and inductions can cause other complications when you might happily labour naturally.

Anyway, the baby was even bigger than expected - 10lbs! Ended up in an emergency c-section as he never descended into my pelvis (stuck) and I never dilated past 3cm despite 22 hours of induction.

It wasn't as bad as it sounds although recovery was tough. I don't mean to scare you, my scenario is not that common. Lots of women labour naturally with similar sized babies. I don't regret trying to have my first naturally as it's very doable for most women. I'm pregnant again and will be opting for a repeat c-section if this baby measures large.

[StupidSlimyGit]

I measured big throughout my entire pregnancy, DD was born by ELCS for an unrelated reason 8lb 7oz at 36 weeks. Bigger than even my poor doctor was expecting, she's still on the 93rd centile line now (6months old) for height weight and head circumference.

[PastysPrincess]

I measured over but within tolerance the whole way through but was told it was all water and my baby would be on the small side of normal at 7lb. He was 11lb 9oz.

[missymousey]

You know you don't ever "have to" be induced (or have any other procedure they recommend)? It's totally your choice. You need to understand why they are recommending it, do your reading to find out whether you agree, decide how accurate you think the measurement is (lots of stories on here that at least suggest you need a second opinion rather than just one measurement), and then make a decision based on the kind of birth you want and what is really best for the baby.

Different hospitals also deal with the same information in different ways too, so don't be afraid to question your MW or consultant for why your specific circumstances need a particular course of a action. The hospital near me seems to induce at 38 / 39 / 40 weeks for just about any reason at all, when others have different guidelines and won't until at least 41 + 0).

[BelleEsme]

I had my 34wk midwife appointment on Monday and I'm measuring 38wks, midwife not worried and said that women are perfectly capable of birthing 10lbers 😳

She also said that he is head down but not engaged at all so sitting high which is probably the reason I'm measuring big.

It's such a guessing game, I would try not to read too much into it, it feels like your giving birth to an elephant no matter what the size! 😉

[SleepForTheWeak]

Thanks everyone, really interesting to hear different stories. I wouldn't be happy being induced, but I'll see what they say on Friday

[JaneEyre70]

I was given a c section at 38 weeks with my 3rd DD as she was measuring so big - they estimated 9lb + so I had to sort through the bigger babygrows etc. She was 7lb 7oz!! - although they did say the placenta was enormous and she was perched right on top of it with not a lot of room. It's all bunkum tbh, and I was enormous by 32 weeks but didn't seem to get any bigger after. Good luck with your baby whatever size they are.

[NennyNooNoo]

The measurements aren't very reliable. I had the opposite with my 2nd baby in that I measured small for dates and was referred for a growth scan at 34 weeks which was fine. She was born at full term weighing just over 7lb. Bumps can be all different shapes and sizes even for babies who are the same size at birth. Try not to get too worried about it and good luck!

[SleepForTheWeek]

Thought I would update.

Scan went well today and it was nice to see baby again. He/she is measuring on the 90th percentile with an approx weight of 3lb3oz

No cause for concern, just a larger than average baby for my height I think!! (I'm 5'2"). Up until now I was almost 100% convinced we were having another girl but I'm now swaying towards boy due to its size!

[NennyNooNoo]

Good news! Congratulations.